Backpacks Project

In keeping with the Social Justice Commitment of the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools, aspiring toward equity of opportunity, inclusion, respect and community-building in and out of the classroom, our district has envisioned the Back Packs Project.  This initiative has been designed to help support income-eligible families to acquire the necessary school supplies their children need to be ready for the first day of school and the academic year. 

This project will provide free access to backpacks filled with appropriate, grade-level supplies, to families who qualify for Free/Reduced lunch.  Our goal is to help ease the financial burden the beginning of the school year can mean for families struggling financially.

We will be collecting supplies during the month of July and the first two weeks of August.  Donations can be dropped off in the Central Office of our district, located in 170 Chestnut Street.  If you have any questions, please write to Dr. Marta Guevara, guevaram@arps.org or call 413-362-1859. Our goal is to collect enough supplies to provide 200 back packs for elementary students and 200 for middle and high school students.  Back packs will be available for families the week before school begins.  We will notify families the schedule for distribution during the week of August 23, 2010.

The following supplies will be collected:

For elementary school students:
Assignment books
Backpacks
Colored pencils
Contraction paper
Crayons
Drawing Paper
English Dictionary (both, regular and picture)
Erasers
Folders
Glue sticks
Markers
Pencils (#2)
Pencil sharpeners
Rulers

For MS and HS students:
Assignment books
Backpacks
Binders
Calculators (both, graphic and regular)
Cards (3 x 5)
English Dictionary (both, regular and picture)
Erasers
Folders
Graphic Paper
Highlighters
Locks for lockers
Loose leaf paper
Notebooks
Pencils (#2)
Pencil sharpeners
Rulers