Groups donate backpacks for elementary students
Forty filled backpacks were delivered Thursday morning to Pleasant Valley Elementary School courtesy of the Pocono Mountain HOG (Harley Owners Group) Chapter and the Latin America Motor Association - Poconos.
The groups have raised money before for Valor and other veterans’ groups, cancer patients and scholarships, but this was a first for backpacks.
Joan Bumbulsky, a teacher at PVE, came up with the backpack fundraiser idea. She said she sees children come to school on the first day with new backpacks and they are so proud and excited to be there. Then there are the children who come in with older backpacks that are visibly worn, and they don’t have that same excitement as the others.
“It’s a self-esteem thing,” she said. “I want to give them the self-esteem, give them something new.”
The fundraiser began before the last school year ended. Bumbulsky said they began collecting money and school supplies on May 5 at the Lakeside Restaurant in Saylorsburg during Bike Night every Thursday evening. In all, they collected enough to purchase and fill 250 backpacks with pencils, crayons, markers, colored pencils, highlighters, folders, glue and notebooks.
One of the helpers to fill those backpacks was PVHS junior Cecilia Cordova. She has been volunteering as part of her community service hours for the National Honor Society.
“It feels really good to me to help the younger kids,” she said. “I don’t like not seeing them have stuff for school.”
All six elementary schools in Monroe County received deliveries of the pink, blue, gray and black backpacks this week.
“I enjoy doing stuff like this,” said Juanita Koestler, one of the members who helped with the fundraiser. “It feels good to give back to society.”
PVE Principal Roger Pomposello said, “I’m super appreciative. There are so many families suffering out there. … You guys are awesome for doing this.”
Students in need will be able to pick up a backpack on Tuesday when the school is open for kindergarten orientation in the morning and from noon to 2 p.m. for Find Your Classroom.