CrossNet plans backpack giveaway

To make sure CrossNet Ministries' annual backpack giveaway is meeting the needs of ELANCO School District children, Lisa Kerstetter, director of marketing and events, spent time talking to teachers about whether the school supplies filling the backpacks are essential. "The teachers said, 'The kids we're serving sometimes don't have these items at home,'" relayed Kerstetter, who noted the importance of ownership and shared the story of a young man in the district who received a yellow ruler in his backpack from CrossNet. "He would not use any other ruler," she said. "One day, he misplaced it, and he couldn't move on until it was found."

To fill the backpacks, CrossNet will hold a drive during the month of July. Fifteen bins will be delivered by Friday, June 30, so that businesses, organizations, and churches can run their drives. Requested items are new, sturdy backpacks for students of all ages, along with pens, spiral tablets, pocket folders, rulers, notebook paper, three-ring binders, highlighters, water-based markers, safety scissors, crayons, mechanical pencils, colored pencils, pencil cases, pencil sharpeners, index cards, glue sticks, erasers, and small tissue packets. Kerstetter noted there is a special need for certain items. "A few things that the teachers (emphasized) were earbuds, water bottles, and, for upper grades, scientific calculators," she said. Financial donations will also be accepted. For those who prefer to shop online, an Amazon wish list is available at https://bit.ly/3oY7xEX, and items may be shipped to CrossNet.

CrossNet Ministries' Back-to-School and More Student Backpack Giveaway will be held at the CrossNet Ministries Youth Center, 110 W. Franklin St., New Holland, on Tuesday, Aug. 8, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Backpacks filled with school supplies will be available for all ELANCO School District students in kindergarten through grade 12 who are participating in free and reduced-cost lunch programs. Proof of residency in the school district such as an electric or phone bill will be necessary to receive a free backpack.

In addition to backpacks, other resources will be available such as free haircuts on a first-come, first-served basis, the Anchored Ministries Clothing Closet, and information from an ELANCO School District representative, CrossNet Ministries, New Holland Early Learning Center, and the Milton Hershey School. Free food items, which will be provided while supplies last, will include hot dogs, snacks, a beverage, and ice cream.

Volunteers are needed to take part preparing for the event and distributing materials on Aug. 8. Individuals interested in volunteering may visit https://signup.com/go/ifowUOw.

In 2022, more than 550 backpacks were given away. Kerstetter would like to have 600 full backpacks for the 2023-24 school year. Any leftover backpacks will be given away through churches and the school district on an as-needed basis. More information about the mission of CrossNet is available at http://www.elancocross.org under "What We Do" and then "Community Programs."