Put this on TODAY’S shopping list and give a big confidence boost to a Twin Cities student

According to the Greater Twin Cities United Way, 35% of students would likely go back to school without a backpack of school supplies this year. “We know that having a backpack isn’t just the supplies; it’s a confidence booster,” said Cayleigh Edwards, director of engagement and volunteerism at Greater Twin Cities United Way.

Providing supplies and backpacks is the goal of Action Day from Greater Twin Cities United Way, which took place on July 30. If you missed it, don’t worry; you can still help.

Old National Bank is hosting collection boxes in the lobbies of some of its branches for backpack and school-supply drop-offs through Friday, Aug. 14.

In Minnesota, 10.5% of families live below the poverty line, affecting over 155,000 children, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Many of these families cannot afford school supplies.

“That’s a large number of students in our community, and this can be the person you ride the bus with or your neighbor down the street,” Edwards added.

The goal of the overall campaign is to impact 55,000 students in the Twin Cities. To help, Edwards said, go to the Greater Twin Cities United Way website to choose from donating an elementary school pack or a middle/high school pack, each with items specific to that student, like folders, notebooks, crayons, colored pencils, and glue sticks for elementary students and folders, notebooks, pens, highlighters, and calculators in the middle/high school packs.

Volunteers can shop for and put all the items in a zip-lock bag or purchase a backpack for the items. The supplies can then be dropped off at Old National Bank locations in Arden Hills, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, North St. Paul, Plymouth, or Wayzata.

“Old National Bank has been a great partner of ours, making our volunteer at home program accessible, especially for people who don’t want to trek all the way to Minneapolis,” Edwards said.

While the cost to purchase the supplies for an elementary backpack is around $30, and the middle/high school backpack about $40, Edwards said the benefit to the student is priceless.

“It really is the confidence of walking in on that first day of school, and you feel prepared,” Edwards explained. “You have ownership over your own education and the future you want to build for yourself, and the backpack truly is the toolkit to help unlock your potential and your future success.”

To shop for and drop off a backpack for a local student in need, go to: https://www.gtcuw.org/volunteer/action-day/