Backpack handouts for needy kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My complaint is that the abusers of this system take a backpack away from another child who doesn't have one yet. I am also talking about the events where the backpacks are donated by companies and many of these are very high quality. Companies like Target will donate very nice backpacks for these.

It's the same with toys. The abusers go around to multiple events and take away toys that other kids won't get to get. I know that many of these charities share lists between themselves to ensure that families only go to one, but that's easy to subvert.

On the whole, I hope that most recipients of these things are honest and only take what they need. But I have witnessed firsthand some are not.

It's not my biggest worry in the world, but it grates on me to witness people take advantage. Or they get a backpack but complain about the color.

How the EFF would you now unless you are following people from event to event.

My guess is that she read this on FB from some Trump supporter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one "lives large" and then gets free backpacks for their kids. Getting free things for your kids is humiliating.

I always see on the news where to donate backpacks, but NO INFO on how to get them. How do people even know where to go?

I live in the Rt 1 corridor of Fairfax County where we have a significant number of Title 1 elementary schools and a large concentration of poverty. The high school has a big "resource fair" - it was yesterday. It is advertised through all the elementary schools, middle school and high school and probably the community centers. One of the things they do at the resource fair is hand out backpacks and school supplies. I didn't attend this year but I have gone in the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought this thread would be about the weekend backpacks that have food, single serving meals for Friday, Saturday and Sunday in them. I understand that they aim to make the meals not-too-appetising so they aren't stolen.

Or eaten by adults or older kids. I sometimes toss in some cookies rather than saltines hoping the kids figure out a way to hide them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you really think moms go around getting multiple bags of school supplies? What would they do with the extras?

And also, the teacher is right. These backpacks don't last. My son's Walmart backpack ripped halfway through the year.

There is a big resale market for school supplies as well as the backpacks. It is like the diapers from diaper banks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People who can afford to buy supplies etc generally do not have the time or energy to run scams to get that stuff for free. I mean, I pay extra for Amazon to bring me a two pack of something I only need one of, so I don't have to deal with the store -- you think I'm going to go around picking up donated backpacks?

If you assume the people being helped actually need help, you will be correct at least 90% of the time if not 100%.

If you are ordering from Amazon do you think you would qualify for free backpacks and supplies?

[Anonymous]

My son used to get those at school. One year the backpacks were sturdy, cute, but not cheesy/corny regarding design.
The year before and after they were cheap and corny and broke apart mid year.
It seems like most families already had backpacks by the first day of school when they were distributed. I didn’t see many kids wearing them later. Maybe 3-5 ppl per class. Also it seemed like there was some coordinated effort to buy them, there seemed to be 3-5 types of design.

[Anonymous]

I’m sick of all these same people simply living off handouts, this country now has no incentive to lead a normal life style including a job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It must suck to go through life being so petty.

+1 and it must be so depressing to waste time worrying that someone else less fortunate got something for free that you were not even offering. I’m very tired of this zero sum game thinking in this country. There’s enough wealth to go around. OP would be so much more content if she just gave more and quit worrying about some poor child taking her “fair share.”

[Anonymous]

To the poster who said they used to work for DCPS... I think you’re a troll. Or worked WTOP.

I used to work at a title I school; extra backpacks were kept (and used) throughout the year. Transient families due to a host of circumstances (soft evictions due to health/death of family member, soiling from rotted food or food hoarding, soiling from lack of funds for wash facility, ripping from cheapness of backs and overstuffing) many beyond their control .

These are kid backpacks and concentrating on the imaginary hoard of people clamoring for cheap backpacks is attention seeking.

Get a life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sick of all these same people simply living off handouts, this country now has no incentive to lead a normal life style including a job.

Normal lifestyle including a job eh?

Just don’t ever get sick, or marry a vet with PTSD, or have a sick parent, or have a special needs child...

Yep.

[Anonymous]

It’s easier to get kids to do their homework and carry communication home when they have a backpack to carry their stuff. Kids are not responsible for whether their parents can afford to or choose to buy a backpack.

As a teacher in a school who gets backpacks donated, we and our students are super grateful. No kid has to stand out as not having one, we can send things home and they can carry their stuff and do their jobs as students. If it gets lost or damaged during the year due to moves, crisis, etc. we can replace them with extras we were given. We are all very grateful to the generosity of the people who make it possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sick of all these same people simply living off handouts, this country now has no incentive to lead a normal life style including a job.

Don’t donate then. The money is not coming out of your pocket so why do you care if a poor child can get a better chance at an education?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sick of all these same people simply living off handouts, this country now has no incentive to lead a normal life style including a job.

Don’t donate then. The money is not coming out of your pocket so why do you care if a poor child can get a better chance at an education?

I don’t, my taxes are already paying for these free loaders. Wake up people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son’s preschool is at a church. They gave an Easter egg hunt. Each child is supposed to take 10 eggs. I see LatinX families every year take a freaking pillow case full of eggs and candy. No one cares.

Honestly, if your life is at the point you’re scamming for cheap candy and $5 backpacks, you need it way more than I need the $20 I spent on school supplies or donated candy.

OP - take a moment and think about what type of life situation you would have to be in to drive to multiple events and get multiple backpacks because you know you can’t afford to replace supplies that get lost or broken during the year. Think about a family that maybe gets 2 toys for tots toys. How many toys do your kids get at Christmas? Maybe the parents save one for the kids’ birthday. These parents are just trying to provide a little joy and normalcy in their kids’ lives. Give them a break.

wow...

[Anonymous]

I’m a teacher and it’s a huge mindset some people even in schools have to avoid doing things or making policies that help the 85% of the kid population because they’re so damn worried about thwarting the 15% who might take advantage or fake it. Wow so some kid gets a new backpack they didn’t totally need. Who cares if 200 other kids who really needed one got one? You can’t spend your whole life only thinking about catching the “bad” because then you are incapable of actually serving and helping the good.