Adults bounced from bookshelf to bookshelf, excitedly stuffing backpacks with supplies for the upcoming school year.
Some had two. Others had three. Another had 10.
The bags weren’t for their own children.
Families gathered Sunday afternoon to purchase and pack backpacks for underprivileged students at A Very Good Deed’s third annual Backpacks 4 Success event.
The community service event was held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the library at Howard Bishop Middle School, located at 1901 NE Ninth St.
“Our students come to us, oftentimes, not prepared, not having the ability to buy the school supplies that they need to be successful in their classes,” said Tarcha Rentz.
Rentz serves as the Community Partnership School director for Howard Bishop through Children’s Home Society of Florida.
A Very Good Deed is a nonprofit organization that was started by Shilpa Patel, Andrea Love and Jennifer Sabile in 2016.
“They felt the need to instill in their kids some way to give back to the community in a different way than just writing a check,” said Lindsey Freeman, the organization’s secretary. “Because, ultimately, what lesson is that teaching?”
Originally, the nonprofit was a monthly box subscription for something in the household that kids could get actively involved with, the 26-year-old continued. But as time went on, it became an event-based organization.
A $25 donation was required for each Trailmaker Equipment backpack on Sunday.
Additionally, family sponsorship opportunities were available on three levels: principal, mascot and coach. The principal level was $300. It included 12 backpacks, two T-shirts and one metal water bottle. The mascot level cost $200 for eight backpacks, two tees and two plastic water bottles. The coach level was $100 for four backpacks, one tee and one plastic water bottle.
Businesses that donated $500 had their logos printed on the back of the shirts.
The build-a-backpack event was to support the middle school by way of the Children’s Home Society.
“We thought it would be special for the families to actually come to a school like Howard Bishop so they can see the fruits of their labor in donations,” Sabile said.
PACE Center for Girls Alachua will also receive a portion of the donations.
“Most of our girls don’t have the extra income to buy the kinds of things that are in this backpack,” said Becker Holland, the center’s development manager.
The school is for girls ages 11 to 18 who’ve fallen at least a year behind and need help getting back on track, she said.
The goal was to pack 160 bags – 100 for Howard Bishop and 60 for PACE.
The families were given a school-specific checklist of supplies.
The girls’ center was contacted to find out what was needed and the list was made accordingly, Sabile said. Howard Bishop’s list was based on what the school and Alachua County wanted.
Supplies included brightly colored four-function calculators, notebooks, pencils, crayons, two-pocket folders, tissue packs and earbuds.
When done building the backpack, families had the opportunity to leave a friendly note inside for its recipient.
The children also had the option to volunteer at the supply stations. Some may not have the means to pay the $25 for a backpack, so they tried to make the event open to everyone, Sabile said.
Among those volunteering were a handful of young pageant girls sporting shiny sashes.
Fifty-year-old Jeryl Brown, whose daughter is a preteen beauty queen, said the title requires a heavy amount of community service. Each queen must show that she is out helping her community.
All volunteers were provided with an official certificate for their time.
Vanessa Davis, mental health counselor at Howard Bishop, told the families that their time and effort have a real effect on those receiving the backpacks.
“Students that are hungry, families that are struggling – they don’t have the supplies that they need,” she said to the crowd. “This really helps my job because I can help provide basic needs so that we can start digging into other things that they’re dealing with.
“What you’re doing is making a big difference.”