Back to school time can be such an exciting time of year! Sure, maybe you’re a bit sad that summer is coming to an end. But the anticipation of a new teacher, new classroom, maybe a new school, seeing old friends, making new friends, and buying new supplies to get ready for the big year ahead is pretty thrilling for most kids. For some families though who are struggling with cancer, back to school time can be overwhelming, stressful, and expensive. The back to school shopping list can seem long and daunting, especially for families who have multiple children preparing for school. At Bringing Hope Home, we want to help ease the burden of families with cancer who are preparing for the start of a new school year for their kids.
Our amazing supporters who make up Hope Nation donated 150 new school backpacks to benefit our families. Bags of all sizes, shapes, and colors filled the hallway at Hope Headquarters in Malvern, waiting to join our families as they head back to school. Other donors contributed monetarily to the program, for additional backpacks to be purchased. Our friends at Office Depot, who have been involved in our Backpacks for Hope Program since 2014, generously donated all of the school supplies for the program again this year.
“We’re so happy to be able to support Bringing Hope Home and the Backpacks for Hope Program each year. We always look forward to our involvement in getting families with cancer ready for the new school year and doing our part!” -Christine Maguire, Office Depot
BHH staff, volunteers, and members of the Office Depot team filled the bags with supplies at our Backpack Packing Party and tagged bags with each child’s name and grade. Enough funds were raised to purchase $10 gift cards to include in each bag for the purchase of additional supplies still needed or a back to school outfit. Bags were then delivered to each of our hospitals for families to pick-up at their next treatment. The feedback from families and social workers who helped to coordinate deliveries was incredible and filled with thanks.
“My patients and their children were so excited to get their backpacks, especially Malcolm who received the Star Wars backpack. It’s his favorite movie! Thanks again for all that you do. We are extremely grateful!” -Melissa Hutchison, Temple University Hospital
Thank you to all of our supporters, Office Depot, and our social workers for all of your support and contributions to make this program possible. We could not have done it without each and every one of you. Wishing all of our families an exciting and fun-filled school year!
You can check out photos from this year’s program here.
