Community Corner

Ivy's to Host Backpack Project Drop-Off Day

Lynda and Kidz Backpack Project will be collecting backpacks and monetary donations on Saturday to help low-income Santa Cruz County kids.

For the past nine years, Lynda Hall has been making going back to school so much easier for numerous low income children in Santa Cruz County.

Since starting the in 2003, when she filled up her kids’ used-but-perfectly-okay backpacks and dropped them off at Santa Cruz Homeless Shelter, the project has grown tremendously. Each year, she asks for donations of gently-used backpacks, or money to buy new backpacks and school supplies, and fills them to the brim with everything the kids will need to start the school year off right.

Last year, the project donated 212 backpacks and this year they are hoping to donate even more to the Santa Cruz Shelter, Walnut Avenue Women’s Shelter, Homeless Service Center and Elm Street Mission.

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“Our goal is to get 300,” Hall said. “We are about a third of the way there so far.”

To help get closer to that goal, Lynda and Kidz will be at in Scotts Valley on Saturday, July 21 for “Drop off a Backpack” day. The organization is seeking donations of gently-used or new backpacks. Each backpack costs $35 to fill up, so monetary donations are also needed.

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“I typically like to do the shopping so that I can make all of the backpacks the same,” Hall said. “That doesn’t mean I would by any means turn away school supplies though if someone wanted to donate them.”

KPIG radio personality Laurie Roberts will be remote broadcasting from the event, and Ivy’s Porch will be having a garden faire selling vintage and garden items. Each person who donates will receive a raffle ticket to win a “fabulous surprise gift” from Ivy’s.

For those wishing to donate but cannot make the Ivy’s Porch event, True Olive Connection in downtown Santa Cruz, 106 Lincoln Street, is accepting
donations until July 31. Additionally, Hall will be accepting donations as well until the 31st. For information on donating to Hall after the event, visit www.lynda-kidz-backpack-project.info/.

Lynda and Kidz Backpack Project drop-off day is on July 21 at Ivy’s Porch, 5311 Scotts Valley Dr., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.


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