The Home for Little Wanderers Seeks Back-to-School Donations for Youth
Friday, July 22, 2011

Annual Backpack Drive Runs August 1 - September 28

The Home for Little Wanderers' annual Backpack Drive kicks off on August 1 and will run through September 28, 2011. As the nation’s oldest child and family service agency and one of New England's largest, The Home touches the lives of more than 7,000 children and families living in at-risk circumstances each year. The non-profit is committed to fulfilling the back-to-school needs of the youth in its care and relies on the community's support for donations.

According to Senior Corporate Relations Manager Jason Etheridge, The Home for Little Wanderers is already seeing an increased number of requests for back-to-school supplies as a result of the economy. "Backpacks and school supplies are always much-needed items because, like many other children, youth who enter into The Home's programs throughout the year attend schools in our communities. As the largest provider of mental health services in the Boston Public School system, our staff see firsthand how families are struggling just to make ends meet. Last year, The Home was able to collect more than 1,000 backpacks and school supplies thanks to the generous support of local residents and corporate partners. We hope to exceed this number during this year's drive."

As people are back-to-school shopping, The Home for Little Wanderers hopes they will remember that many of the youth at The Home have never had a bag of their own and enter into care with few, if any, personal possessions. Receiving a new backpack and school supplies prepares them for a successful school year and boosts their self-esteem and confidence.

Several local businesses are partnering with The Home for Little Wanderers to collect items for this year's Backpack Drive. Starting August 1st, donations of new backpacks and school supplies for youth aged 5-21 can be dropped off at:

For a list of much-needed school supplies or to make a monetary donation, please visit www.thehome.org/backpacks or call 617-267-3700.