Angels: Back 2 School program a success

SANDPOINT — More than 800 students in the Lake Pend Oreille School District are starting school today with a brand-new backpack.

The Angels Over Sandpoint's Back 2 School backpack program sends students in need back to school with a new backpack and school supplies. The philanthropic community group has teamed up with the community to ensure that students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade have what they need to start school.

"This year 800 bags were handed out. We could never have done this without the generous donations we receive, our partnership with Staples and the generosity from We Haul," Cindy Vogel, Angels Over Sandpoint publicity chair, said.

The program is funded through a fundraising campaign, an annual AOS golf tournament its Follies variety show. In a blog post about the program, Angels officials said the program began with a modest goal of providing backpacks and school supplies to 20 children in need has grown significantly in the program's 22 years.

Care is taken to ensure the students have everything that their classmates have when they start school.

Staples provides quality supplies that meet children’s preferences and needs, ensuring they don’t feel left out with lower-quality, off-brand items. Also, the nonprofit's partnership with the Lake Pend Oreille School District has streamlined the approach to getting the right supplies, grade level by grade level, to students.

“Watching the kids light up when they choose a backpack they like is such a great feeling,” Chelsey McQuoid, coordinator of the backpack program, said. “Last year, a little girl personally thanked me … the waterworks began, and it wasn’t her crying.”

While fundraising efforts are crucial, Angels members said that equally as important to the Back 2 School program is volunteers. They play an essential role in assembling backpacks the week before the event and assisting during distribution at various locations, including Sandpoint, Sagle, Clark Fork, and Priest River. 

Information: angelsoversandpoint.org