DOWNRIVER, Mich. – Following a successful community drive earlier this month, the Salvation Army Downriver Corps Community Center hosted a backpack distribution event at its building in Wyandotte, where dozens of backpacks and thousands of school supplies were handed out to local families.
Thanks to donations from Local 4 viewers, businesses, and community members collected during the August “Go 4 It” school supply drive in Southgate, the Salvation Army Downriver received over 6,500 school supply items.
The donations included backpacks, supplies, and other essentials for the new school year.
“I’m thinking that there’s going to be a lot of happy children and even happier adults, because these bookbags are literally jammed packed with stuff,” said parent Crystal Mullins as families picked up their supplies.
Lt. Audrey Sutter of the Salvation Army Downriver said her team had been eagerly anticipating distribution day.
“We received over 6,500 different school supply items, which include the backpacks, tons of crayons, markers — the whole nine yards,” said Sutter.
For families who had expressed need this school year, the event provided an important relief.
Mullins, who is preparing to send two young children back to school, said the donations helped ease both the logistical and financial strain of back-to-school shopping.
“It did help me meet a buffer, for sure. Not only the stress of having to go shopping and deal with the back-to-school madness, but also the financial aspect of it. Both of my kids hit a growth spurt over the summer and grew two sizes,” Mullins said.
Organizers say the distribution is one of many programs the Salvation Army Downriver runs to support children and families in the area.
Volunteers helped fill and distribute the backpacks, which were packed with notebooks, pencils, markers, and other classroom essentials.
“It really does bring our hearts happiness when we can see it reflected back in the community,” Lt. Sutter added.
The Salvation Army Downriver welcomes volunteers and ongoing donations to support their programs.
For more information, visit their Facebook page here.