ACE Center Backpack Day

With the passing of Summer comes the start of another school year. As in years past, Massachusetts Baptist Multicultural Ministries, the ACE Center for New Americans, and the local community came together to help refugee students start their school year right by distributing backpacks filled with school supplies.

In preparation, volunteers and staff gathered the day before the event to prepare over 100 bags with grade-appropriate school supplies (elementary, middle, and high school). Supplies included, but were not limited, to single-subject notebooks, pencils, sharpeners, erasers, markers, highlighters, crayons, pens, calculators, rulers, scissors, glue sticks, pocket folders, and Post-it notes.

On Saturday, August 27th from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm the community gathered outside the MBMM offices at 99 Church Street in Lowell, MA to celebrate the end of the school break. In addition to the distribution of backpacks, refreshments were served, including fresh-popped popcorn, freeze pops, and water. Many different communities participated, with Afghani families having the largest turnout. Ninety-eight backpacks were distributed on that day and the remaining ones will be available to those in need through the ACE Shoppe.

Thank you to everyone who supported this event and made it a success. We received several individual backpack donations during our World Refugee Day Event in June. Melissa Marrama donated a large number of the backpacks and some school supplies. Walmart also showed its support by donating $1000. The funds were used to purchase additional backpacks and school supplies.