Project Backpack for 5,500 Students

Posted on: August 1, 2023

Category Education | News | Programs | School

Meeting the Educational Needs of Underprivileged Students

Americans Helping Americans® is excited to contribute to the success of young students by providing essential school kits filled with pencils, notebooks, and other necessary supplies. With the start of the new school year approaching, we have received requests from our partners in various states, including Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia. In total, we aim to distribute over 5,500 school kits.

Making a Difference in West Virginia

One of our long-time partners, Big Creek People in Action (BCPIA), operates in McDowell County, West Virginia, an area with significant economic challenges. The county's per capita person income (PCPI) of just over $34,000 is well below the national average of $64,143 (2021). BCPIA's co-executive director, Dyanne Spriggs, highlights the impact of these school kits on local students' lives, stating that the lack of employment opportunities in the area forces many families to rely on public assistance, Social Security, or unemployment benefits. As a result, they struggle to afford school supplies for their children.

“There are very few jobs available in our area, so most of our people are on public assistance, Social Security, or unemployment. When families struggle to pay the normal monthly bills, they don’t have money left to buy their children school supplies. But because of our partnership with Americans Helping Americans®, kids will have the school supplies they need to start the new school year off right. These children would go without if we didn’t receive support from Americans Helping Americans®.”

Dyanne Spriggs

Empowering Students in Georgia

In Gainesville, Georgia, our partner LAMP Ministries, directed by Mary Mauricio, has requested 400 school kits for the children they serve, particularly through their afterschool program. These children come from low-income families, and providing them with school supplies has proven instrumental in enhancing their academic success. The combination of school supplies, tutoring, and mentoring has boosted their confidence, contributing to greater overall achievement.

“The children we serve are from a low-income community, and having school supplies makes a big difference in the school success for these children. School supplies, coupled with tutoring and mentoring, have helped the children in our programs feel more confident when going to school and has given them a greater chance of success.”

Mary Mauricio

Impactful Partnerships with Americans Helping Americans®

The generous support of Americans Helping Americans® enables organizations like BCPIA and LAMP Ministries to access vital resources for their communities. Dyanne Spriggs emphasizes the significance of this support, stressing that BCPIA lacks funding to purchase basic need items like school kits. Therefore, the support from Americans Helping Americans® plays a crucial role in empowering underprivileged students and giving them the tools they need to succeed.

“We appreciate your generous support of our organization through Americans Helping Americans® and all the people who we serve.”

Dyanne Spriggs

With the collective effort of Americans Helping Americans® and our partners, we strive to bridge the educational gap for students in need, ensuring a brighter future for all.

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