[Warnervale] To ensure that every child has the opportunity to start the new school year off on the right note, a local teacher has launched a school supplies collection drive for communities devastated by the bushfire crisis.
Lakes Anglican Grammar School teacher, April Bryson, launched the Bring Back Hope – Backpacks Full of Hope back-to-school project on January 7, to support school children in the South Coast and the Blue Mountains, which have been some of the hardest hit fire regions. Bryson said she thought up the idea for Bring Back Hope whilst watching coverage of the bushfire crisis over the summer school holidays.
“I have a heart for kids and their wellbeing, and as a Year 1 teacher, I know of the excitement that a new school year brings.
“However, as the new school year nears, many families and kids will still be reeling from a devastating summer, with houses burnt down, possessions lost, and an overall feeling of sadness. “My desire is to provide backpacks of hope and joy to bushfire affected families who may need a helping hand to get their kids to school and ready to learn again,” Bryson said.
Taking her cause to Facebook, the Coast has since rallied behind Bring Back Hope with hundreds of people expressing interest in donating backpacks and back-to-school gear, and several local businesses and schools offering to open their doors as collection points.
The campaign ran until January 17 with Bryson doing her final collection, filling a van with donated goods. Bryson said the campaign was so successful that more than 600 backpacks had been donated. Bryson said she would update the community about the final figure once all backpacks were filled and ready to be shipped out in the coming week. Source: Website, Jan 17 April Bryson, Bring Back Hope – Backpacks Full of Hope Reporter: Dilon Luke