UPDATE

With impact fees preventing more than 104 million children around the world from attending school, Give a Kid a Backpack (GKB) a nonprofit agency in Central Florida works to make a difference in these children’s lives. Their mission is to enrich the lives of impoverished children around the world with backpacks filled with school supplies through the partnership with other nonprofit organizations.

This year GKB launched the Clean Out for Kids Campaign (CKC), which is a new initiative that empowers youth to recycle their gently used school supplies. These supplies, that would have otherwise been thrown away, were collected from schools in Lake, Orange, and Seminole County. Twenty-five schools participated and the campaign collected a total of 2,879 pounds of donations from the community, reducing waste and the impact on the planet, while providing children with the tools needed for an education.

Volunteers from local high schools, elementary schools, and their families logged 285 hours cleaning out supplies and putting together a total of 7,150 backpacks for distribution to children; the backpacks will then be given to students in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Africa, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Local organizations such as Rotary, Haven, and the Orange and Seminole County Sheriff Departments will be distributing 1,500 of those backpacks in Lake, Orange, and Osceola County alone.

Give A Kid A Backpack would like to thank the community for their involvement in the Clean Out for Kids Campaign this year. Due to the success of the campaign, GKB plans to continue the program next year and encourages all schools to start collecting now in an effort to provide tools for education to children in the United States, underdeveloped nations, and aid in the preservation of our environment.

Give a Kid a Backpack handsout 10,000 backpack in the Central Florida Area

People began to gather outside the Amway Arena about 6 a.m. By 8, thousands were in a line stretching blocks long. By 9, the doors opened to about 10,000 people. They weren't there for a Magic game or a concert. They were there out of desperation, hoping to receive free backpacks, free immunizations, free school supplies and other items to help make the upcoming school year a bit more affordable in a tanking economy. Give a Kid a Backpack help hand out 10,000 backpacks. Children also received haircuts and health exams and other services and enjoyed entertainment.