ATLANTA — On Saturday morning, Channel 2 Action News will start taking your donations to help children across the metro prepare for the first day of school.
Channel 2 Action News, The Family 2 Family Project and The Children’s Restoration Network have partnered to collect new backpacks filled with age-appropriate school supplies for children in foster care, group homes or homeless with their parents.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
“No child should ever feel like an ‘other,’” said Condace Pressley, Director of Community and Public Affairs for Channel 2 Action News. “The first day of school is critical to a student’s success, and Stuff the Bus assures these students go back to school with a new backpack filled with the supplies they need.”
Metro Atlanta students told WSB Tonight’s Courtney Francisco that the Stuff the Bus event excites them for the upcoming school year.
“Yeah! Everybody feels it, whether you’re a kid, even my age,” said one rising Senior.
He and his little brother start school Tuesday and patiently await the supplies to organize “just so” in their backpacks. He said they like to share and trade supplies the night before school.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Chick-fil-A to open futuristic two-story restaurant concept in metro Atlanta
- Georgia civil rights groups denounce Soul Fest Concert series at Stone Mountain Park
- Convicted felon arrested with over 800 illegal pills, firearms, detectives say
“When I get my bookbag, I’m definitely going to do the same thing. I’m definitely going to go trade with my little brother and his stuff.”
Pastor Anita Lane has been part of the effort for 20 years now.
“When you’re homeless, you’ve got to deal with bullies, you’ve got- not having name brand clothes- you’ve got to pray to God that you’ve got a book bag,” said Lane.
This year, she said, thousands of students in the city don’t have a home.
“More than 3,000 easy,” said Lane. “Easy, and that’s just Atlanta.”
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
She and her team have made it a mission to rescue the children from the streets, and this is one way they can help them show up to school prepared.
One student described what it’s like to show up to school empty-handed.
“You would have to look around and ask others to borrow their things, and it’s the first day of school. You’re going to have that nervous thing going on, especially as a younger child,” said the student. “It’s nerve-racking. So, you rather have your own stuff so you can focus and get the job done.”
IN OTHER NEWS:
©2023 Cox Media Group
