Back to School: Donations provide needed backpacks for children

Nearly 200 children will have the school supplies they need to begin the school year thanks to donations from FCA US LLC and One Oak Church in Royal Oak.

Members of One Oak Church held a supply drive and donated crayons, markers, highlighters, pens, pencils, notebooks, folders, lunchboxes, paper, color pencils, index cards, rulers, glue and glue sticks. 

“We are very impressed with the work Oakland Family Services does in the community,” said Marianne Winter-Long, director of volunteer and community outreach at One Oak Church. “The agency has been around since the 1920s, and we know their history. This was an opportunity for us as a church to pour some love into local kids.”

With a donation from FCA US, the agency was able to purchase school supplies to fill 185 of the backpacks for clients in Early Childhood Services programs, Foster Care and Adoption, Day One and PRISM: Project Recovery Intensive Services for Mothers.

Oakland Family Services is thankful for the FCA US Motor Citizens volunteers and Woodside Bible Church members who donated their time on Aug. 17 to assemble the backpacks in time for the new school year.

"Back to school is a stressful time for parents and children alike and added to that stress is the burden of expensive supply lists,” said Valerie Mercadante, development and engagement coordinator at Oakland Family Services. “Thanks to our community of supporters, Oakland Family Services can provide free backpacks to families in need, stuffed with everything kids require to have a successful school year."

You can make a direct impact on the community through your support of Oakland Family Services. Learn more about how you can donate or volunteer!