The Salvation Army in Cortez is preparing for what could be its biggest annual Backpack and School Supply Giveaway with the goal of equipping children in need with confidence as they head back to school.
The Salvation Army is asking for members of the community to support the giveaway through volunteering and donating.
This free event is open to all students from pre-K to high school seniors who live and go to school in Montezuma and Dolores counties. Students who preregister for a backpack on Wednesday will receive a backpack packed with grade-appropriate supplies for the upcoming school year. Preregistering doesn’t guarantee an Osprey backpack, it does guarantee a backpack with supplies.
Preregistration is encouraged, as walk-ins will only receive a backpack on a first come, first served basis. Students will receive their bags at the Backpack & School Supply Giveaway event will be held at Evangel Assembly of God, 209 W. Fifth Street in Cortez, on Aug. 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Preregistration can be completed online on July 1 at bit.ly/MOCOBackpack.
Volunteers are needed for Red Kettle donations and “Stuff the Bus” donations on Friday and Saturday, July 10-11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cortez Walmart.
Dates That Require Volunteers:
Red Kettle Donations and “Stuff the Bus”
When: Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11
Where: Cortez Walmart
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Stuff the Backpacks (preparing up to 1,000 backpacks)
When: Tuesday, July 28
Where: Evangel Assembly of God, 209 W. Fifth St. in Cortez
Time: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Backpack & School Supply Giveaway
When: Saturday, Aug. 1
Where: Evangel Assembly of God
Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Items needed include small backpacks for preschoolers, washable markers (8-count), crayons, watercolor paints, scissors, glue sticks, Elmer's glue, colored pencils, No. 2 pencils, ballpoint pens, highlighters, Expo markers, notebook paper (wide- and college-ruled), spiral notebooks, marble composition books and folders with brads and pockets. These items can be dropped off to volunteers at Walmart.
“You heard it quoted, ‘It takes a village to raise a child,’ but I think for our community, ‘It takes an Osprey backpack full of tools to raise a child,’” Art Tidwell, service center director Art Tidwell told The Journal prior to a past backpack event.
Online financial donations can also be made at bit.ly/4uAXhhP, which was created with assistance from Squirrel Congress and Onward! A Legacy Foundation.
Volunteers are also needed on Tuesday, July 28 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Evangel Assembly of God to stuff the backpacks. It is estimated that 1,000 backpacks will need to be stuffed. Volunteers who serve on Aug. 1 will help hand out backpacks to students.
Those interested in volunteering should contact Tidwell at art.tidwell@usw.salvationarmy.org. More information and event updates will be found on The Salvation Army Cortez’s Facebook page.
bduran@the-journal.com
