As she shouldered one of nine backpacks prepared for Langley teenagers in need, youth worker Susi Schecker was pleasantly surprised at how packed the donated rucksack was.
“It’s heavy,” Schecker said, as she posed for a picture with some of the students at Gordon Greenwood Elementary School at 9175 - 206 Street Friday morning.
The back packs were stuffed with blankets, water-resistant hoodies, food coupons, dry socks, books and other supplies including chocolate treats, to help what Schecker described as “teens living away from home.”
And that wasn’t all.
An overflow of donated food items filled several cardboard boxes, and the campaign by students and teachers at the K-to-7 school also raised $500 that will be donated to the non-profit Aldergrove Neighbourhood Services (ANS), Schecker’s employer and the agency that will be distributing the backpacks.
The backpack campaign was inspired by a similar effort mounted by a single class at another Langley school that ended last year when the teacher behind the initiative retired.
Greenwood teacher Ronda Salli took the idea and expanded it to involve all 410 students at Greenwood.
Salli was delighted by the response, calling it a “huge success” during a morning meeting of all students and teachers where the backpacks, overflow boxes and a cheque were officially presented to ANS by students and staff at the school.