Summer collection seeks schools supplies for students in need
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By David Karas | Correspondent
When Aileen Rivell and her family moved from Westfield to their current home in Colts Neck – becoming parishioners of St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck – one thing was missing: a school supply drive to collect needed materials for students.
“My family really enjoyed participating in the school supply collection held at our old parish in Westfield, (so) we decided that we would start one at our new church,” said Rivell. In 2008, she and her mother began what has since become an annual project geared towards collecting school supplies for low-income students.
Project Backpack is returning this summer, running from July 4-26 with an ambitious wish list: donations of backpacks, binders, colored pencils, markers, notebooks, loose-leaf paper, pencils, rulers, pencil pouches, pens, highlighters, index cards, erasers, crayons and folders are being sought for the project.
“The students who benefit from Project Backpack come from lower income families in the Freehold area,” said Rivell. “Everything collected goes to these local students, who range in age from kindergarten to high school.”
What began as a project based in St. Mary Parish has since expanded to six different churches and parish communities spanning several towns – including Marlboro, Eatontown and Manalapan. In addition to worship spaces in other faith traditions, the drive is being hosted within the Diocese of Trenton's St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro, and St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan, as well as the Rivell's home parish of St. Mary.
Rivell said that the expansion came after the drive experienced increasing success each year. The first summer collection netted some 100 backpacks – each filled with age-appropriate school supplies as well as other items like pens, pencils and crayons. Last summer, she said, the effort yielded 200 filled backpacks. She also provides some donations – like clipboards and small dry erase boards – directly to teachers for classroom use.
In addition to posting alerts about the collection in parish bulletins, Rivell often visits parishes and stays after services to man the collection box and answer questions. The response she has received has been inspiring.
"I have spoken to parishioners at many churches, many of whom have expressed their enthusiasm for the collection and have encouraged me to continue keep the collection running for as long as it has,” she said.
Items are donated to the Park Avenue Elementary School, Freehold, as well as Aslan Youth Ministries, Red Bank. Rivell also provides some donations to a local volunteer in the Freehold community who distributes them to families and children in need.
The beneficiaries of Project Backpack receive not only the classroom essentials they will need, but a boost in spirits, as well.
“To an underprivileged student, being able to start the school year with brand new school supplies and a fun backpack covered in superheroes or floral print can be a source of great excitement,” she said. “It is my hope that this excitement transfers over to the subject material that the students record in their new colorful notebooks.”
She said that the drive also resonates with a central component of the Catholic faith.
“One of the many things that the Gospel teaches us is to help the less fortunate,” she said. “And you don’t need to go to foreign countries to find people in need; they can often be found in your own hometown or the next town over. A local collection allows people to give back to their own community in a meaningful way and can enhance the sense of community in a town.”
Project Backpack also accepts financial contributions from those interested in providing support but not able, or too busy, to shop for school supplies. Those with questions or seeking more information can contact Rivell at 732-946-7201. Checks, Rivell said, can be sent to St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro, and should note that the contribution is for Project Backpack.
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By David Karas | Correspondent
When Aileen Rivell and her family moved from Westfield to their current home in Colts Neck – becoming parishioners of St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck – one thing was missing: a school supply drive to collect needed materials for students.
“My family really enjoyed participating in the school supply collection held at our old parish in Westfield, (so) we decided that we would start one at our new church,” said Rivell. In 2008, she and her mother began what has since become an annual project geared towards collecting school supplies for low-income students.
Project Backpack is returning this summer, running from July 4-26 with an ambitious wish list: donations of backpacks, binders, colored pencils, markers, notebooks, loose-leaf paper, pencils, rulers, pencil pouches, pens, highlighters, index cards, erasers, crayons and folders are being sought for the project.
“The students who benefit from Project Backpack come from lower income families in the Freehold area,” said Rivell. “Everything collected goes to these local students, who range in age from kindergarten to high school.”
What began as a project based in St. Mary Parish has since expanded to six different churches and parish communities spanning several towns – including Marlboro, Eatontown and Manalapan. In addition to worship spaces in other faith traditions, the drive is being hosted within the Diocese of Trenton's St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro, and St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan, as well as the Rivell's home parish of St. Mary.
Rivell said that the expansion came after the drive experienced increasing success each year. The first summer collection netted some 100 backpacks – each filled with age-appropriate school supplies as well as other items like pens, pencils and crayons. Last summer, she said, the effort yielded 200 filled backpacks. She also provides some donations – like clipboards and small dry erase boards – directly to teachers for classroom use.
In addition to posting alerts about the collection in parish bulletins, Rivell often visits parishes and stays after services to man the collection box and answer questions. The response she has received has been inspiring.
"I have spoken to parishioners at many churches, many of whom have expressed their enthusiasm for the collection and have encouraged me to continue keep the collection running for as long as it has,” she said.
Items are donated to the Park Avenue Elementary School, Freehold, as well as Aslan Youth Ministries, Red Bank. Rivell also provides some donations to a local volunteer in the Freehold community who distributes them to families and children in need.
The beneficiaries of Project Backpack receive not only the classroom essentials they will need, but a boost in spirits, as well.
“To an underprivileged student, being able to start the school year with brand new school supplies and a fun backpack covered in superheroes or floral print can be a source of great excitement,” she said. “It is my hope that this excitement transfers over to the subject material that the students record in their new colorful notebooks.”
She said that the drive also resonates with a central component of the Catholic faith.
“One of the many things that the Gospel teaches us is to help the less fortunate,” she said. “And you don’t need to go to foreign countries to find people in need; they can often be found in your own hometown or the next town over. A local collection allows people to give back to their own community in a meaningful way and can enhance the sense of community in a town.”
Project Backpack also accepts financial contributions from those interested in providing support but not able, or too busy, to shop for school supplies. Those with questions or seeking more information can contact Rivell at 732-946-7201. Checks, Rivell said, can be sent to St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro, and should note that the contribution is for Project Backpack.
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