Cross Blog

Assistance League donates much-needed backpacks for children

Thursday, February 18, 2010

On Wednesday, Feb. 10, the Assistance League of Charlotte donated backpacks filled with school supplies to the Greater Carolinas Chapter of the American Red Cross. The donation came as part of the League’s “Operation Bookbag,” in which they provide the bags for children whose families have been victims of home fires and other disasters.

Red Cross volunteers Berkely Godehn and Jim Sheely collected the bags from Laura Royster and Renee Reese with Assistance League.

Each year, the League donates these packs to the Red Cross to distribute them to local school-aged children. Often, when a family is displaced, children lose their school supplies. Having these packs enables them to get back into school quickly.

“It is so important for children to receive something like this after a disaster, because it helps bring them a sense of normalcy,” said Rick Schou, director of Emergency Services for the Greater Carolinas Chapter. “And the fact that Assistance League was able to make such a generous donation - well, it really helps out our chapter.”

The Assistance Leauge of Charlotte is a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and their families through community-based philanthropic projects.

To learn more about them, visit charlotte.assistanceleague.org.