By Kathy Chouteau
The Kiwanis Club of Richmond, a group dedicated to making our community and world a better place for children, is wrapping up a “Back to School Drive” benefiting the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP).
There’s still time to donate. Anyone wishing to contribute backpacks and/or school supplies to this year’s drive can do so today, Aug. 9, between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The group welcomes donations of new backpacks, as well as supplies including no. 2 pencils, crayons, markers, colored pencils, pencil sharpeners, pencil cases, notebooks, hand sanitizer wipes and face masks. To coordinate a donation drop-off or pick-up, email the Kiwanis Club at kiwanisclubofrichmondca@gmail.com or text 341-203-4445.
Donations collected from the drive will be donated to GRIP Mon., Aug. 12. That day, the organization’s Executive Director Ralph Payton will give Kiwanis Club members a tour of GRIP and discuss avenues for continued collaboration. GRIP is a coalition of faith-based congregations working together to help community members in need to transition to self-sufficiency, according to its website.
Yenny Garcia of the Kiwanis Club said that the Back to School Drive service project comes from the group’s desire to serve the children and youth of our Richmond community. “Growing up in Richmond, I remember what it felt like not having the right school supplies, so this project is very close to my heart.”
To date, Garcia said the group has collected twenty nine backpacks filled with school supplies for this year’s drive and is currently awaiting an additional donation of ten backpacks. Donations have come from Kiwanis Club members including Tiffany Harris, Diana Jackson, Lynn Mack, Floyd Cormier, Rosa Acosta, Tamara Shiloh and Garcia herself.
Again, to donate today, email the Kiwanis Club at kiwanisclubofrichmondca@gmail.com or text 341-203-4445. Check out the drive’s video on Instagram.
