There is still time to donate to the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) GIVE BACKpacks campaign. The district is working to raise funds to purchase 20,000 backpacks filled with school supplies for students in need, which will be distributed at the start of the 2017-2018 school year.

More than 55,000 MCPS students receive free and reduced-price meals—an indicator of poverty—and many MCPS families struggle to afford basic necessities like school supplies. The GIVE BACKpacks campaign was created in 2013 in response to this growing need.

Last year, MCPS provided nearly 18,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to students.

A $10 donation will provide a student with a new backpack, filled with school supplies. Donors are welcome to give any amount, but also have the option to give at the following levels:

• $300—Class Level
• $1,500—Grade Level
• $6,500—School Level
• $25,000—Cluster Level
• $50,000 and up—District Level

MCPS has already received generous donations from dozens of parents, staff and community members, as well as businesses, organizations and foundations. Among the donations:

• Educational Systems Federal Credit Union– $25,000

• Kits for Kidz – $20,000

• Wegmans - $1,500

• Delta Kappa Gamma Society Sigma Chapter - $1,144

For more information and to donate, visit www.mcpsgivebackpacks.org or call 301-217-5370.