Operation Backpack Is Underway in the Lowcountry

United Way of the Lowcountry

United Way of the Lowcountry Women United Seeking Support for Operation Backpack to Provide Local Children in Need with School Supplies

For years, United Way of the Lowcountry Women United has worked to help fill in the gaps and make sure children in need here in the Lowcountry have the necessary school supplies to begin school through Operation Backpack. While this year’s school year will be different due to COVID-19, Women United is dedicated to ensuring children have the school supplies they need, whether they learn in the classroom or virtually at home.

“With many parents out of work and struggling financially due to the pandemic, Operation Backpack is more important than ever this year, ” says Alison Barton, Chair of Women United’s Operation Backpack Initiative. “We want children to have all of the tools they need on the first day of school. We all know purchasing school supplies can certainly be costly, and many families in our community simply can’t afford the extra expense right now. If we all do our little part to help, we can make a big impact for the children in this community.”

Through Operation Backpack, Women United provides children with a backpack filled with school supplies at the beginning of each school year. “Our mission is to break any barrier that would prevent a student from succeeding in school,” says Katie Phifer, Women United Steering Committee Chair. “When we learned that many of our students were starting the school year without the supplies they desperately needed, Operation Backpack was born. Over the years, we’ve continued to expand to meet the growing needs in our community.” Last school year, the initiative provided more than 1,250 backpacks filled with school supplies and uniform shirts to students at schools throughout Beaufort and Jasper Counties. “We are grateful for the generosity of our community throughout the years, including local businesses, neighborhoods, individuals, and other non-profit groups who have stepped up to help our children,” says Phifer.

Women United works with school social workers to identify the students who would benefit the most from the program and who are not being served by other agencies. In the past, Women United volunteers have collected school supplies, helped pack each of the backpacks with the supplies, and then delivered them to the schools. However, due to the pandemic, this year will look a little different. “Due to COVID-19, we will be ordering the backpacks pre-filled this year. Although we won’t be physically collecting items or packing the backpacks this year, the community’s support is more important than ever,” says Barton. This year, supporters can sponsor a backpack for a child for $40 or give any desired amount. In addition to school supplies, the backpacks will include a face mask and other essential items.

How Can You Get Involved?
Women United is collecting monetary donations to purchase the backpacks filled with school supplies. You can sponsor a backpack for a local child for $40 or give any desired amount.

Donations can be made online at www.uwlowcountry.org or by texting BACKPACK2020 to 71777. Checks can be made out to “United Way of the Lowcountry” with Operation Backpack in the memo line and should be mailed to United Way of the Lowcountry, P.O. Box 202, Beaufort, SC 29901.

For more information about Operation Backpack, contact Jaime Dailey-Vergara at the United Way of the Lowcountry by emailing jdaileyvergara@uwlowcountry.org. More information is available at www.uwlowcountry.org.