There are some kids out there that don’t get to do much during their summer vacation.
Their parents might not be able to afford to travel or send them to camp so the Kyrene School District has set up a program that will provide an estimated 700 summer activity packs to children in financially struggling families.
The packs will include decks of cards, games, pencils, notebooks, crayons and more. The district has begun to collect items for the bags and is asking for donations of their most needed items – board and card games, jump ropes and paper.
“They are things that will make a big difference in a child’s summer,” said Amanda Hamm, prevention services program manager at Kyrene. “We need something like 6,000 items total and we are hoping we can get the community’s help in securing them.”
Hamm took over the program this year and is targeting students from kindergarten through third grade in the Kyrene district who are homeless or who are identified as Title 1 families.
Last year, they distributed roughly 50 bags and Hamm said she wanted to set the bar higher for this year.
“This is awesome but it’s difficult at the same time because it is like how do you provide a bag for every child that needs one,” she said. “It’s to help kids who are living in poverty and in academic poverty.”
Drop-offs can be made at Kyrene de las Lomas Elementary School, 11820 S. Warner Elliot Loop in Ahwatukee Foothills, or at the Kyrene Family Resource Center, 1330 E. Dava Drive in Tempe. They will be accepting donations up until May 6 when they will begin to assemble the packs. For more information on how to donate or volunteer, email kfvolunteer@cox.net or call (480) 783-4070.
