August 7, 2008

Backpack Drive in desperate need of donations and volunteers

The failing economy has deeply affected the largest back to school Backpack Drive in California. The Family Giving Tree has fallen thousands of backpacks short of its 2008 goal of donating 13,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to local low income children.

"This year more than ever we are seeing the effect of poverty in the Bay Area," said Jennifer Cullenbine, FGT executive director. "We are urging people to visit our Web site at www.familygivingtree.org and sponsor a child online. We have 2,000 children on our waiting list and we just don't have enough donations."

In addition, some schools that received donations last year have been turned away this year due to lack of donations.

The drive helps thousands of children by working with over 90 social service agencies and schools throughout the Bay Area who will be receiving the backpacks for their low-income students.

The Back-to-School Drive collection of supplies and backpacks is currently taking place until August 11, 2008 at the Family Giving Tree warehouse located at 434 South Abbott Avenue in Milpitas with distribution to the agencies and schools to pass on to the children just in time to start the school year. In addition to a lack of donations the drive is in need of more volunteers to stuff the backpacks and help fill the agencies cars. Those interested in helping out at the warehouse should visit the FGT Web site to sign up for a 2 hour (or more) shift.

For more information on how you can help please call (408) 946-3111 or visit our Web site at www.familygivingtree.org.