Educators work their hearts out every day to ensure children excel academically. But many of their students start the school year without the basic supplies they need to succeed.
So, when the Canyons Education Foundation announced it was holding a donation drive to fill backpacks for homeless students teachers delivered. Hundreds of educators, administrators and support staff participated in Canyons District’s inaugural back-to-school “Gathering for Good” on Friday where they enjoyed a BBQ lunch and then lined up to help stuff backpacks. Sandy-based Sodaholics sold cold drinks, gifting half of all proceeds to the foundation. By midday, dozens of boxes of supplies and nearly 400 fully stocked backpacks had been loaded into a truck bound for students in transition or residing at the Road Home homeless shelter in Midvale.
Located within Canyons School District’s (CSD) boundaries is Utah’s largest family shelter where demand has grown 300 percent in five years, according to CSD’s Homeless Liaison Connie Crosby. Her caseload, as of July, exceeded 350 school children.
“The need is high, but thankfully, we have a very generous community,” she said. “I couldn’t do my job without the community behind me. I’m so very appreciative.”
