By MH
For thirteen years, For The Kid In All Of Us has helped deserving children start their school year off right with a backpack full of supplies. Peach talked to FTK President Lynn Barfield about the importance of this initiative.
In your own words: Tell us about the background of Backpack in the Park
Back Pack in the Park was started by For The Kid in 2006 in response to the need from its partnering beneficiary organizations to get deserving children in their programs backpacks and school supplies to begin their school year. The organization has collected over 22,000 backpacks over the years.
Who will receive these backpacks full of school supplies support?
The backpacks will be given to our partnering agencies to distribute, including AID Atlanta, Chris 180, Eastlake Foundation, Lost-n-Found Youth, and Legacy of Pearls.
Backpack in the Park returns to Piedmont Park this year – tell us about this change and what it means to the event?
We wanted to make changes to the event this year and also bring the event back to a location that is shared by the community and by our city. No place brings people together like Piedmont Park. It’s the hub of activity and events.
What can people expect at this year’s Backpack in the Park?
The first part of the day from noon until 4:00 PM is a designated drop off time so people can bring by backpacks. For attendees that do bring a backpack, you can enjoy some adult beverages and some delicious afternoon appetizers and hear an awesome DJ. For folks choosing the night event, we will have a real live auctioneer, Dean Crownover, doing a live auction with some wonderful auction packages, a silent auction, a jazz band, The J Clay Band, and Zest Catering serving drinks and some delicious food. To RSVP either part of the day, got to www.eventbrite.com.
What do you need to know if you want to bring a backpack?
The backpacks can be filled with two pocket folders, spiral notebooks, wide ruled notebook paper, No. 2 pencils, colored pencils and three-ring binders. Get creative with what backpack you pick out – kids love all kinds!
Is there an option to support even if you don’t show up with a backpack?
And if you cannot attend the event on Saturday, please got to our website and purchase a ‘virtual backpack’ for $35 or you can make a monetary donation of your choice. Our goal is 2500 backpacks! Help us make it happen!
Anything you’d like to add?
Thank everyone for all the continued support that you all give to For The Kid. As we continue to bridge communities to strengthen the quality of life for children who are in need, we face growth in the need of our resources in our state. 21% of children who live inside the city limits are at the poverty line or below. Even though we see images of abundance all around us, children are still underserved and sometimes forgotten. Our board members and volunteers are committed to doing what we can to help.
—
13th Annual Backpack In The Park takes place Saturday, July 14, at the Piedmont Park Greystone Pool Pavillion. 12-4 pm is community drop-off of backpacks and the evening event is from 7-10pm. Check out forthekid.org for more info and to RSVP.