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Waterloo Heights donates 11 backpacks filled with school supplies to students in need
Every year residents and team members participate in the WRPS Backpack Challenge
9/30/2024
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Deron Hamel
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Waterloo Heights residents and team members showed their community support just before the school year began by donating 11 backpacks filled with school supplies – such as notebooks, pencils and crayons – to the children of families in need.
The Waterloo, Ont. seniors living community participates in the Waterloo Regional Police Service's (WRPS's) Backpack Challenge every year.
In preparing for this year's Backpack Challenge, team members organized an outing for residents to buy backpacks and school supplies.
Many residents who couldn't attend the outing donated cash to help out, notes Waterloo Heights activity director Jacqui Metzloff.
“The cash was used to purchase more backpacks and supplies, based on what we needed more of after the physical items were donated,” Jacqui tells S&R Today.
“This year, I focused more on the youngest age group when purchasing supplies with cash.”
While all the supplies residents bought were practical, they were also fun and had themes younger children enjoy, like Paw Patrol, Avengers and Barbie, Jacqui adds.
“We even had a cupcake notebook that was cake scented,” she says.
WRPS Const. Melissa Quarrie collected the items from Waterloo Heights and took time to have photos taken with residents.
“(The Backpack Challenge) is a great cause and WRPS always does so much for our community,” Jacqui says.
Hosted by WRPS every summer, the Backpack Challenge encourages citizens, businesses and organizations to donate new backpacks, lunch bags, school supplies and gift cards to children and families in need ahead of the start of the school year.
In a press release, WRPS Chief Mark Crowell says the Backpack Challenge is an important community event.
“The Backpack Challenge is more than just providing school supplies, it's about sending kids back to school with a smile and setting them up for success,” he says.
“We are incredibly proud of the community's support and look forward to another year of making a positive impact on families in need.”
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