Christine's Hope for Kids (CHFK) was inspired several years ago to create Operation Backpack because many children do not have the supplies or resources needed for the upcoming school year.
Christine's Hope for Kids (CHFK) was inspired several years ago to create Operation Backpack because many children do not have the supplies or resources needed for the upcoming school year.
For a lot of children, backpacks are more than bags filled with pencils, paper and additional supplies. They are gifts of hope - bags of it. It is an annual undertaking for Christine's Hope for Kids, but this year's Operation Backpack exceeded all expectations with 1,005 backpacks, almost double last year's number.
With the help of 20 volunteers, 60 volunteer hours completed, 148 delivery miles driven and 1,005 backpacks filled, there were 1,005 happy Mercer County kids. In conjunction with New Jersey Women in Banking, The JM Group of Princeton and Noto Insurance Agency, it was the Foundation's largest backpack donation to date.
With the support of these sponsors and other countless donors and volunteers, each backpack contained not only basic supplies, but also rulers, calculators, binders, pencil cases and a host of items to make each child feel prepared, but more importantly, special.
At the close of this summer's Operation Backpack, the backpacks were shared with 10 different agencies for distribution to individual children: Children's Home Society, Homefront, WomanSpace, One Simple Wish, Mill Hill Child Development Center, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Princeton Human Services, Pennrose Social Services, Princeton YMCA Child Resources and Resource Family Advisory Board--Child and Family Services.
Christine's Hope for Kids has been dedicated to giving hope and support to children in need in our local community for the past five years. They strongly believe that all children, regardless of their life circumstances, deserve to have a happy and healthy childhood. Through raising money, collecting item donations and working closely with other nonprofit organizations, they give less fortunate children in our community a better life. They also work to educate and empower children to help one another and to understand the value of giving.
Your donation to the 2015 Times Annual Appeal will help Christine's Hope for Kids continue its mission to help kids in need in our community. NJM Insurance group of West Trenton has pledged to donate $1,000 for every $5,000 contributed by the community and other business donors throughout the 2015 campaign.
To make a donation to support Christine's Hope for Kids, make your check payable to The Times Holiday Appeal and mail to Times Charities, Inc., 413 River View Plaza, Trenton, NJ 08611.
All gifts will be acknowledged in The Times. Anonymity will be granted, if requested.
For more about Christine's Hope for Kids, go to www.christineshope.org.
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