FCPS Seek Backpacks, School Supplies for Disadvantaged Kids

For the nearly 56,000 students in Fairfax County Public Schools living at the poverty line, obtaining school supplies can be difficult. 

In an attempt to change this, FCPS is partnering with roughly 20 nonprofits and businesses to ensure that students will have the supplies they need this fall for its “Collect for Kids” campaign.

“Every school in FCPS is touched by need — some schools have as little as 1% of their students in need, while others have over 80% of students in need,” Kathy Ryan, an FCPS spokeswoman, said.

Community members can drop off new backpacks to various locations in the Tysons area, which FCPS will then hand out to kids for the start of the school year in August.

Backpack drop off locations include any Apple Federal Credit Union, the FCPS Gatehouse Administration Center (8115 Gatehouse Road), and a few other places. Some in the greater Tysons area include:

• Apple Federal Credit Union in Falls Church (1118 W. Broad Street)
• Freedom Bank in Vienna (502 W. Maple Avenue)
• Alya Salon (139 Park Street SE)

FCPS also has a goal to raise $25,000 dollars — monetary donations are accepted online.

 “Increasing the awareness of the number of students in FCPS that need this yearly support is also a goal,” Ryan said.

Photo courtesy FCPS