The midsummer heat is on in Tucson and so is back-to-school planning, which means ’tis the season for backpack and school supply drives.
It is a worthy cause, considering that school essentials can come with a hefty price tag: last year, a survey by the National Retail Federation showed that families with children in elementary through high school planned to spend a average of $874.68 on clothing, shoes, school supplies and electronics.
Local businesses and nonprofits recognize that this can be cost-prohibitive and are doing their part to help support families, kids and teachers.
“We understand that for a lot of families, the school supplies to start a kid off right is a big financial burden. Lots of families don’t have the money to provide kids with all the materials they need. We want to make sure that kids and teachers have everything they need to be successful, and we want kids to show up feeling proud that they have what they need for their best school year,” said Jenny Skaggs, Director of Recruiting and Corporate Engagement for Nova Home Loans.
A long-time supporter of local students and teachers, Nova Home Loans is back to work with this year with a new program called Operation Back Pack. Organizers are requesting help from the public to collect more than 800 backpacks filled with supplies to be distributed through Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson and local elementary schools.
“We have done school supply drives for many years for different nonprofits and teachers organizations. I was a teacher for 20 years so this is near and dear to my heart. I remember the days of buying school supplies myself for kids who needed them,” Skaggs said.
She said Nova is excited to model Operation Backpack after its Miracle en el Barrio program, which has grown into one of the largest private holiday toy giveaway events in Tucson.
“The kids will not only get supplies, but they walk through with police officers of volunteers who help them pick out their backpack and folders. They kind of go ‘shopping’ and choose the items that speak to them so they have more ownership: They get to pick out what they want to start the year. That was always my favorite part of back-to-school when I was a kid—picking out my Trapper Keeper folder and pencil pouch — and we want to recreate that for these kids,” Skaggs said.
Nova Home Loans annual Back-to-School drive fills backpacks with school supplies for local students. The company believes giving back helps employees feel enriched.
Skaggs said the partnership with BGCT came about naturally, as NOVA Owner Jon Volpe was a member when he was a kid. BGCT will help funnel the donated supplies directly to more than 500 kids from low-income families; an additional 300 youth have been identified through through local schools and other resources.
The Tucson Police Officers Association (TPOA), is another essential partner in the effort, according to Skaggs. A nonprofit bargaining and advocacy unit of the Tucson Police Department sergeants, detectives and officers,TOPA supports various philanthropic efforts and will assist kids as they choose their supplies.
“We are reaching out to local schools and community groups we work with that help children who are in need. We don’t try to reinvent the wheel: We try to go through community partners and ask them who can benefit to help facilitate getting the supplies to kids,” said Darrel Hussman, President of TPOA.
Hussman, who is a public safety officer with the City of Tucson, said TPOA members are excited about the opportunity for outreach.
“It is another way we can have positive interaction with youth. Lots of times they only see officers when things are bad. We want to take away the fear and anxiety kids have and show them that we are part of the community and part of rebuilding,” Hussman said.
He views Operation Backpack, much like the TPOA “Kids and Cops Event” during the holidays, as a key component of bridge-building in the community.
“Nova and Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson are great cornerstones of our community and we couldn’t think of better partners. Hopefully this event will become a staple in the community and we can continue to get more people involved to help as many kids as possible to be prepared for school,” Hussman said.
