NJWC Begins Back To School Backpack Program

The Newtown Junior Women’s Club is kicking off its annual “Back to School Backpack Program.”

Each year NJWC distributes brand new backpacks filled with supplies to children in the Newtown Public School System whose families are limited financially. The children are referred to NJWC by Newtown Social Services and the names of the families remain anonymous.

This year, the Backpack program, now in its fourth year, will support more than 80 children. In the past, this program has been a huge success with generous donations from the community. So far, the club has received $600 in monetary donations; the projected cost to run the program is more than $1,500. Any excess funds will be used to support the children throughout the year.

Anyone who would like to make a donation should send it to: NJWC, PO Box 217, Botsford, CT 06404.  Or call the program coordinators, Anna Wiggers, 270-8208, or Skye Koehler, 270-1677.

Without the community’s support, this program will not be successful to aid in helping a child get a great start back to school, club members said.