River Green Outreach Donates 75 Backpacks

River Green Outreach partnered with Give a Kid a Chance, Inc. to help send 75 Cherokee County elementary school children back to school with backpacks filled with school supplies. Give a Kid a Chance, which began in 2006 with 100 backpacks, anticipated its biggest event this year with almost 40 partners on board to serve as many as 2,000 kids. The program is designed to help kids and families start the school year on the right foot with school supplies, medical screenings, and haircuts. Thanks to the kindness of neighbors and sponsors, River Green Outreach exceeded its goal of 50 backpacks and donated 75 filled backpacks along with clothing, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and dental floss. 

On July 7, River Green Outreach held a pizza party fundraiser at the Heritage Club pavilion. Neighbors purchased pizzas and drinks and some enjoyed their meals poolside to help a good cause. Alessandro’s Italian Café and The Corner Butcher Shop helped sponsor the event which raised enough money for 11 sets of school supplies. On July 13 more than 25 volunteers participated in the packing party to fill the backpacks. Cherokee Family Dental generously donated 75 backpacks and dental care supplies. Neighbor Michele Webb wanted to show her five year old son, Barrett, how easy it is to get involved and participated in both the pizza and packing parties. “It only takes hours, minutes, or moments of our lives to help a child in need.  They are the future and if they have an experience where someone helps them, they in turn may help someone in the future.”

"My husband and I both work and we are involved in other volunteer activities, but we wanted to participate in a program that will benefit members of our immediate community."

- Barbara St. Peter, RG Resident and Outreach Participant