Aug. 27, 2018—Kendal corporate staff members donated a total of 138 school supplies—ranging from backpacks and math tool sets to pencil boxes, pens and composition books—to help local students from low-income families be better prepared to learn and enjoy school this fall.
“Corporate staff donated both items and cash used to purchase school supplies,” says Diane Massey, KCorp’s Community Engagement Coordinator. “Because we did get so much donated, the items were divided between two local school supply drives sponsored by the Maternal & Child Health Consortium and the Longwood Rotary Club.”
Diane emailed a “Fill the Backpack Challenge” to corporate staff in mid-July. “I know it’s still the middle of summer, but it seems it’s also that time when parents and schools are thinking about back to school,” she wrote, adding that she would be happy to collect and deliver everything that staff donated.
To prime the pump a bit, Diane also provided a link to Good Housekeeping’s “Ultimate Back-to-School Shopping Lists from Kindergarten to College.” The local school districts classroom supply lists were also used to help provide direction and suggestions for staff.
On Aug. 11, 45 Longwood Rotary Club volunteers got together to stuff backpacks and book bags with school supplies to be distributed to students in need in three local school districts.
“Last year, the Rotary Club’s project supported over 375 students from kindergarten to 12th grade, and this year … even more students will be getting supplies,” the Kennett Paper reported Aug. 12. The news story noted that several area businesses helped with donations of supplies and funding.
“As a System, Kendal is aiming to improve and expand its community footprint outside of its four-walls. Our mission is to ‘transform the experience of aging’ for all individuals and to have a positive impact on the health and well-being of the greater community,” Diane said. “The Backpack Challenge was a fun and easy way to get KCorp staff engaged in an activity designed to help others. I had a great time shopping for the school supplies and was really impressed by the pile of items that were donated by everyone.”
