Southwest Region: Community Partners Prepare Youth for Back To School

The 2017-2018 school year is right around the corner and this August, our Southwest Region hosted a back to school backpack drive to benefit both our foster families.

“We try to do this every year as a way of providing the school supplies for families that experience poverty in the communities that we serve,” said Southwest Regional Director Susie Parr. “We invite a variety of organizations from the area to work with us as a way to show our clients that we, and their community, are here to support them.”

Attendees received backpacks and school supplies from Volunteers of America, participated in crafts led by The Home Depot and met the Columbus police department and their horses. Even local barbers gave free haircuts to children as they prepare for their first day of school. The event also included a hotdog lunch, balloon animals, face painting and other family friendly activities co-staffed by Cardinal Health and The Village Network.

“The Village Network exists to empower youth and families to build brighter futures, and that’s exactly what we did in August. We partnered with our community to host an event to help meet our clients’ needs and prepare them for a successful school year,” Parr said.