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The Salvation Army in Salt Lake City received an almost $6,000 donation from Security Services Federal Credit Union for the “Pack the Pods” backpack drive. The Aug. 10 event, held with radio station 97.1 ZHT, raised a total of $8,000 in cash along with thousands of school supply items.
According to the Granite Education Foundation, 65 percent of the 68,000 students in the school district they serve struggle to obtain needed school supplies.
“The needs within our community are astounding,” said Major Troy Trimmer, Salvation Army Salt Lake Basin Coordinator. “We believe that when kids have the proper tools they will be more successful in school. We appreciate the financial support of Security Services Federal Credit Union and their members in this great cause.”
On Aug. 11, The Salvation Army Salt Lake City Corps hosted its annual “Back-To-School Bash,” a community block party for families where 350 elementary school children received a backpack full of donated school supplies including notebooks, crayons, glue sticks, rulers, colored markers, pens and pencil boxes.
“No family should have to choose between utilities, medication and school supplies, yet many are forced to do this,” Trimmer said. “The Salvation Army’s hope is that they can free low-income families from spending money on school supplies so they can use it to fulfill other essential needs.”
The school supplies came from private contributions and donations from Granite Education Foundation, Smith’s Food & Drug Stores, Shopko, Sizzling Platter, Little Caesars and BEEYond Insurance Agency.
