With the start of school today, Wrangell Cooperative Association ensured more than a few local students came prepared. Last week the Tribe distributed 110 backpacks as part of its annual back to school program.
Eighty-five of these came from the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, which provides the backpacks to families across the region annually. The brand-name bags are outfitted with notebooks and materials suitable for different ages and include stationary, a new water bottle, a ruler and a waterproof bag.
“They’ve done really well. Very nice backpacks,” commented Donna Kuntz, helping with the distribution at WCA’s new cultural center on Aug. 20.
Organizing the distribution, Carol Snoddy explained the remaining packs and materials were donated by Costco and several local businesses, or else sold at a discount.
“We had a lot of volunteers and it was just a wonderful day,” she said. “It’s just one of those fun things we try to do out of the office.”
This year’s distribution was the largest in recent years, with 75 bags given out last year and 85 two years ago. The program is a help to many families in the community, benefitting children ranging from preschoolers to seniors in high school. And it makes sure kids have one fewer excuse for not having their homework done.
WCA is already collecting materials for next year at its office on Lynch Street. “We would gratefully accept donations down at the tribal office,” Snoddy said.
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