Local group continues to pack up smiles

Volunteers with the PackSack Smiles Organization were all smiles as they streamed into Northgate Shopping Centre armed with new colourful backpacks full of back to school essentials Tuesday night.



For eight years now the organisation has been turning a stressful time for a number of area families into a welcomed event as the organisation helps school-aged children from less fortunate families start the school year off on the right foot.

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 with 13 packs being delivered, this year they will support 206 kids from Powassan, North Bay, and Callander areas 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 the community has stepped up and they have seen a spike in volunteer numbers for the organization.

“It was a very exciting night for us with lots of activity and many new volunteers,” notes Trip.

“We have probably 150 volunteers this year. We’ve got tons of new volunteers which is fantastic.”

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.