SPUR, a local nonprofit, is rallying many volunteers across Lynn, Marblehead, Salem, and Swampscott to take part in its annual backpack drive, an initiative designed to set students up for academic success from the very first day of school.
Now in full swing, through August 8, the program will provide 600 fully customized backpacks filled with classroom-specific school supplies to local children in need.
Each kit is hand-packed with care and attention to detail, ensuring that every child receives exactly what they need to thrive, right down to their favorite colors and personal preferences.
“We’ll be providing for 18 different programs in the towns of Lynn, Swampscott, and Marblehead,” said Bryan Lamoreau, SPUR’s director of volunteer engagement, who helped coordinate the effort.
Volunteers as young as five have been working with their families to count, sort, and pack supplies with military-like efficiency, guided by spreadsheets, labeled tables, and a lot of fun.
Children like Lorenzo Barden, age 7, are also taking part, helping not just to pack supplies but to support other volunteers around them. “Lorenzo has been volunteering for four years now,” Director of Communications and Community Relations Kimberly Nothnagel said. “He came in when he was just a little guy. Now he’s here every summer vacation and holiday break.”
Barden said his favorite part of volunteering is “knowing the kids will get a backpack.”
Barden volunteers alongside his grandmother Lisa, who said, “It is really important to show the kids how to give back.”
For families like Amanda Jaffe’s, volunteering has become a multi-generational tradition. Amanda, who has served on SPUR’s board for the last six years, brought her young daughters, Lily, 7, and Skylar, 5, to this year’s packing sessions.
“We always go back-to-school shopping, and they love it,” Jaffe said. “But I want them to appreciate that not everyone has that opportunity — and that there are nice things we can do for our community and friends.”
Skylar said she likes to write notes wishing students a good school year, and Lily said her favorite part of volunteering is picking out the colors for the backpacks and folders.
Behind the scenes, the process is tightly organized. Every item is carefully counted and laid out based on grade-specific needs. Volunteers are given lists that mirror the exact supply requirements of each student’s teacher. “We want to make sure there’s no waste,” Lamoreau said. “All the items are brand-name, the same things their peers will be using, to help remove any stigma.”
“It’s really important that the kids feel ready and confident on that first day,” Lamoreau added. “And this is one small way we can make a big difference.”
This year, SPUR partnered with Staples in Vinnin Square to source high-quality school supplies at affordable prices.
According to Nothnagel, this local partnership has helped keep costs down without compromising quality. “We didn’t have to increase the cost for sponsors,” she said.
One of the most heartwarming aspects of the effort is the personalized touch. Once volunteers fill a backpack, they write an encouraging note to the student receiving it.
Messages range from “Have a great school year!” to personal stories about favorite books or first-day jitters.
“My favorite notes are the ones where the volunteer says, ‘When I was in seventh grade, this was my favorite book,’” said Nothnagel. “You’re never going to get a letter back, but just the idea that someone thought about you — that’s what makes this special.”