Eastside Community Ministry Gives Away Backpacks & School Supplies For Tools For School

ZANESVILLE, Oh – Backpacks filled with all the back-to-school essentials were picked up by families Thursday. 

Volunteers from Eastside Community Ministry gathered at Zanesville Middle School to pass them out. 

Over 830 kids, from 1st through 12th grades registered for Tools for Schools which provides students with any school and teacher-specific supplies they may need for the new year. 

Eastside Community Ministry Director Jamie Trout says this is especially important this year with rising costs of many items. 

“We did average about an $80 bookbag with the supplies. So, we know that many working families are signed up this year. We’ve seen a lot of grandparents come through the line to pick up for their grandchildren that they’re raising , and of course they didn’t plan for that. So to have this available to them so that we can help them out while their raising children, it just makes us feel good to be able to give back to our community,” she said.

Bags were packed based off of teacher-provided lists to ensure each child has exactly what they need to start the school year off right.

Trout says the event has had tremendous success in the past, not just with students and families, but with the teachers and schools as well. 

“In years past, we’ve had such great feedback from the schools, and of course Zanesville Middle School and the principal continues to be very involved with this program because he knows the need is out there, so we just keep doing what we’re doing and each year we get better,” Trout said.

Backpacks were handed out through noon Thursday. 

If you missed the event and your child is in need of a backpack and supplies, Eastside Ministry encourages you to give them a call next week.