NORWALK, Conn. — Corporate and community partners have teamed up to donate a record 370 filled, high-quality backpacks to students in programs ran by the Family & Children’s Agency in Norwalk, according to an FCA release.
FCA said the bags are being given to students in its Early Childhood Home Visiting, Foster Care, ASPIRE after-school, Adoption, DCF Involved Family Support and Housing Retention programs.
The release notes that each backpack was tailored to the age of the recipient and filled with important school supplies such as crayons, pencils, pens, spiral notebooks, folders, pencil cases, scissors and scientific calculators.
According to FCA, the backpacks are durable and should last for multiple school years. FCA also hopes the backpacks will make the students feel confident and excited about their supplies and the process of returning to school.
A diverse group of donors supported the effort, the release said. Donors include Bridgeport’s Chase Bank, Carry Me Comfort in Westport and NORD/LB (NYC) employees from Claritas, FactSet in Norwalk and OperationsInc in Norwalk.
The list of supporters also includes members at Rumble Boxing SoNo in Norwalk, parents from Carousel Preschool in Norwalk, the Service League of Boys of New Canaan and Wilton, members of FCA’s Board of Directors and Junior Board of Advisors and individual donors. Volunteers from Albourne in Stamford also helped assemble some of the bags.
“As the new school year approaches, we understand the financial burden that school supplies can place on families. We are incredibly thankful to our donors who have stepped up to ensure that every child in our programs starts the year on equal footing,” FCA President and CEO Robert Cashel said in the release. “This outpouring of support shows just how much our community cares about giving our students the tools they need to succeed.”
According to its website, FCA has been helping individuals and families throughout Fairfield County realize life’s possibilities for more than eight decades. FCA aims to strengthen the social and emotional well-being of its clients by providing strength-based, solution-focused services for life’s every stage.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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