PackSac Smiles group helps area kids start the school year off right

Once again in the dead of summer the volunteers with the PackSac Smiles Organization are busy working to make sure kids in need start the school year off on the right foot.

Hundreds of of the groups volunteer shoppers, armed with colourful backpacks full of back to school essentials, streamed into Northgate Shopping Centre Tuesday night to deliver the goods for storage.

For in their ninth year the organisation has stepped in to take the stress of families who for one reason or another can ill afford to purchase the school supplies for the.

The volunteer group, which has been fundraising all year, relies solely on donations of goods and money to help make sure these kids have what they need to build self-esteem and succeed in school.

The group started out eight years ago with 14 packs being delivered, this year they will support 220 kids from North Bay to Powassan from both the Public and Catholic school boards, JK to grade 8.

PackSac Smiles Organization Chair Darlene Trip tells BayToday that along with the increase of needed packs they are now into the French school board.



The backpacks include jeans, long sleeve shirt, short sleeve shirt, running shoes for gym, lunch bag, underwear/socks, age appropriate book, toiletries, juice and snacks, and a pencil case with ruler, eraser and pencils.

The delivery of packs will take place in late August.