It was a wonderful sight to see: many happy parents and children leaving St. Francis House with backpacks full of school supplies and clothes. They were ready for school to start. With the help of our generous donors, we were able to distribute 1,208 packets of school supplies and school outfits to low-income students in our community.
But the real success came through the client stories and all the children who benefited from the program. It was the small barefoot and shirtless boy who left with shoes on his feet and a shirt on his back. It was the mother who asked if we could replace her teenage son’s worn out shoes, and left knowing her child’s feet would be well-protected this winter. It was the single father who was so grateful that his three children would have supplies to start the school year.
It was the little girl who on the last night was so overjoyed that she could pick out her very own backpack. “This is the one I want,” she said excitedly and then proceeded to try it on. “It fits perfectly!” she declared to the world and left with the biggest smile across her face.