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Community Corner

Spreading the Excitement of Back to School for Children in Need of School Supplies

Spreading the Excitement of Back to School for
Children in Need of School Supplies





(San Mateo, Calif., July 25,
2013) --- In the coming months, office supply stores will be gearing up for the
back to school specials that have families flocking to the aisles for school
supplies. However, many children attending schools in the Peninsula Bay Area
will be unable to prepare for classes due to financial instability, and
therefore, they rely on support from the community for their school supplies.





The InnVision Shelter
Network has developed a program not only to help homeless families find proper
housing, but they bring attention to homeless children who attend school
without the necessary school supply items to fit-in with their classmates. With
this in mind, InnVision Shelter Network has partnered up with Saint Matthew’s
Episcopal Church and is asking the local community to donate small but
significant items to fill backpacks for all school children, with a special
emphasis on older children, in particular the teenagers.

Find out what's happening in San Mateowith free, real-time updates from Patch.





InnVision Shelter Network has
been successful filling backpacks with donations for the younger age students who
need crayons and markers and paper. However, children grades 9-12 are in need
of some more mature items in their backpacks. Therefore, InnVision Shelter
Network and St. Matthews Episcopal Church are making an assertive effort to collect
donations for the backpacks that will be donated to children in need grades 9-12.
Gifts such as a $5-$25 Starbucks gift card can go a long way in helping teenager
homeless students feel integrated with their peers.





Popular items that will
bring joy to these teenagers include gift cards for snacks with their friends,
from Jamba Juice, Subway or even Starbucks. Once these gifts are placed in the donated
backpacks, the school year will be much less stressful for homeless children
who face the extra burden of financial hardship.

Find out what's happening in San Mateowith free, real-time updates from Patch.





The community should
consider the impact that a backpack full of helpful items can make on a teenager’s
life who can not afford to do their own back to school shopping. With your help
and extra purchases while doing your own shopping, the pressure of living in
transitional housing programs for homeless students can be less difficult in
the schoolyard.







St. Matthew’s Episcopal
Church will accept donations of gift cards and school supplies until Sunday,
September 8, 2013. The goal is to receive and fill 100 backpacks to give to the
children from InnVision Shelter Network. After all donations are accepted, Reverend
Eric Hinds will offer a blessing service on the charitable backpacks and gift
donations during the 10:15 a.m. church service on September 8, 2013.





Who:               St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church and Day School
partnered with InnVision Shelter Network



What:             Blessing
of the Backpacks



Where:
           St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church



                        16 Baldwin Ave.,



                        San Mateo, CA  94401



When:                         Sunday, September 8, 2013
(last day of donations)



Contact:          Betsy McCall;
bmccall1@pacbell.net













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