WILLIAMSBURG — Bacon Street Youth and Family Services will be collecting backpacks for its Third Annual Backpack Drive from July 11 to Aug. 10 at its Hampton, Gloucester, and Williamsburg offices.
“It was really important for us to take one less stressor off of parents and making sure that kids start the school year off right with the supplies they need,” Bacon Street’s Director of Social Services, Dr. Megan Franco, said in an interview with WYDaily.
In the Backpack Drive’s inaugural year, Bacon Street only collected from the Hampton office. However, this year the organization is expanding to make it easier for those who wish to donate, as well as for the students in grades K-12 that this program benefits.
“So our first year we served 100 kids, and last year it was closer to 200,” said Franco. “So our goal is to get closer to 400. It’s really important to start children off with the right tools and we’re trying to provide parents with some relief. Everything is so expensive nowadays. There are studies that have shown that children that have the right supplies when they start off the school year, it increases their classroom preparedness, their participation, their interest in learning, and just overall confidence.”
Both Backpacks and school supplies are gladly welcomed by Bacon Street during the drive. The backpacks themselves will be distributed on Aug. 18 from 2-6 p.m.
Bacon Street started in 1971 in Williamsburg, since then expanding to satellite offices in Yorktown, Gloucester, and Hampton. The organization provides programs such as substance abuse counseling, mental health counseling, and after-school programs for youth ages 10-26 and parents.
For more information on Bacon Street, check out its official website. Additionally, those interested in learning more about the third annual Backpack Drive should contact Dr. Megan Franco at 757-253-0111 ext. 216.
