By Maya Hurst
Although it may feel as if the last day of classes was merely weeks ago, the reality is that parents, students and teachers must soon begin their back to school preparations. The first day of school can be an incredibly exciting yet demanding day for all members of our community. However, this day can also prove to be stressful for many children, especially those who may not have suitable supplies and materials to start their school year off well. In recent years, members of the Greenwich community have noticed the need for school supplies, and have joined together to support local students.
Many residents of Greenwich may be surprised by the fact that there is a long standing issue regarding children in Greenwich who do not have the support and materials they need to thrive in a school environment. Fortunately, we reside in an incredibly generous community which cares about the lives of the children within it. For the past several years, Diamond Hill United Methodist Church has partnered with several businesses and nonprofits -notably, the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich and Neighbor to Neighbor- to raise funds in support of these students. Unfortunately, these organizations do not have money set aside to purchase school supplies for those who need it, instead relying on donations from generous Greenwich residents to provide for the students. In total, Diamond Hill United Methodist and the Boys and Girls Club hope to raise a total of nearly sixteen thousand dollars, which would allow them to contribute three hundred and fifty backpacks filled with school supplies towards the cause. In addition, they hope to provide the older children with calculators, adding around five hundred dollars to the sum they aspire to raise.
Reverend Carol Bloom, a founder of this drive, explained that in starting this project, she had hopes of bringing organizations within Greenwich together to work towards a united cause. Not only does this bring our community closer together with the goal of improving the lives of younger citizens, but it also proves to be a more efficient way to raise funds towards the cause. As several organizations collaborate to raise money, each organization can more easily contribute to the overall success of the fundraiser.
While officially led by Reverend Bloom and Diamond Hill United Methodist Church, Mr. Bobby Walker, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich, and his team at BGCG put in a tremendous amount of effort into this drive. By providing school supplies for those who need it, The Boys and Girls Club continues to successfully stand by its mission- to provide a safe place for children to learn and grow as people. Despite the hard work of the groups around town, the most important part of the process is those who are willing to donate so that these organizations can actually make a difference in the lives of children living in the Greenwich community.
How to donate: There are several ways to donate to the backpack drive. While donating backpacks and supplies is appreciated, monetary donations are preferred, as some schools have incredibly specific requirements for the supplies. The Boys and Girls Club is also able to make more efficient use of donations through group purchasing. Donations can be made through either Diamond Hill Methodist Church or the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich. If one chooses to donate through the Boys and Girls Club, one can simply go to their website (https://bgcg.org/), click the link marked “donate” and pay using a credit card or paypal account. In the special instructions spot, please note that the money is to go to the backpack drive. One may also donate through Diamond Hill, mailing a check marked for the backpack drive to their address 521 E Putnam Ave, Cos Cob, CT, 06807. This is a nonprofit project, meaning that the total amount of the donations go straight to the cause. Donations are also tax deductible.
Thanks to the generosity of Greenwich residents and those working towards the backpack drive, young children around town are given the opportunity to go to their first day with a more positive outlook on school and the year ahead. Diamond Hill United and the organizations it partners with during this event are dedicated to looking out for the future of the young members of our community. As Reverend Carol Bloom, Pastor of Diamond Hill United Methodist Church said: “All of our faith traditions include a strong component of loving and caring for our neighbors, and this [drive] is just one way to do that.”
