4 minute read
A Precious Child Prepares to Help Students Succeed During Coming School Year
By Kristen Beckman
Each summer, A Precious Child helps prepare students in need for the upcoming school year by providing them with backpacks filled with supplies and necessities donated by local businesses and members of the community.
This year, the organization has had to re-think its strategy for reaching not only students but also their families and other community members in need. When schools first closed down this spring in response to COVID-19, A Pre cious Child provided 333 Inspiring Minds STEM kits filled with educational activities to children in need through its agency partners and Resource Cen ter in order to enhance learning outside of the school setting.
In addition, the organization surveyed its clients and agency partners to assess their most pressing needs in order to determine which services and resources would be the most critical. It pivoted its programming and imme diately began working to provide essential cleaning, hygiene and baby items to those in need. A Precious Child distributed more than 11,000 bottles of hospital-grade disinfectant cleaner that families couldn’t find anywhere else, as well as other essential items to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The organization is now evaluating what different needs students may have during the upcoming school year, but it remains focused on the fact that no matter where students are spending their time learning, they will still need supplies. Early in July, A Precious Child kicked off its Fill A Backpack program and is asking for the community’s help with donations of backpacks and school supplies, ranging from glue sticks and crayons for kindergartners to composition notebooks and graph paper for high schoolers.
“A Precious Child’s need for Fill A Backpack donations has grown this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Misti Wright, Programs Director for A Precious Child. “Ensuring students enter the school year with confidence and prepared to learn is especially important for low-income students. They are most at-risk for falling behind during distance-learning because they are less likely to have consistent access to technology and out-of-school educational support than their more affluent peers. We’re adopting virtual donation options in order to provide a safe experience for all of our donors to continue to be involved in supporting children with their needed supplies. We are hopeful that anyone who is able will consider sponsoring a child’s backpack.”
Backpacks and supplies are distributed to children through the organization’s Resource Center and agency partners including schools, human services organiza tions, at-risk youth centers homeless shelters, and foster care organizations. Broomfield residents can help by hosting a general supply drive, hosting a virtual supply drive, hosting a virtual fundraising page, donating funds or volunteering their time. A Precious Child also con tinues to collect donations of cleaning supplies, hygiene items, and diapers.
Based in Broomfield, A Precious Child impacts children in eight Colorado counties through numer ous programs, including distributing more than 17,000 backpacks each year.
“Our Fill A Backpack program is important because it ensures underprivileged children get to start the first day of school feeling confident and prepared to succeed academically. This year’s need is higher because so many families have lost their income and have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some families who were in a good place last year may have different circumstances now – and we want to be there to support them. Our goal is to give children a sense of normalcy and to be on the same footing as their peers by providing them with these necessary supplies. With school ending so abruptly this past year, creating a solid foundation for the new school year is more important than ever,” explained Carina Martin, CEO and Founder for A Precious Child.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.apreciouschild.org Email: Programs@APreciousChild.org Call: 303-466-4272 7051 W. 118 th Ave., Broomfield, CO 80020
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