WWAY ‘Stuff the Backpack Drive’ helps Cape Fear students start school prepared

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — WWAY is helping students across the Cape Fear start the upcoming school year prepared and ready to learn.

Through WWAY’s “Stuff the Backpack Drive,” school supplies were collected for Communities in Schools of Cape Fear, which serves students and families across New Hanover and Pender counties.

Donations included backpacks, notebooks, cleaning supplies and other classroom essentials. Volunteers spent Tuesday sorting through the donated items and preparing them to be distributed to schools throughout the two counties.

Communities in Schools of Cape Fear Communications Manager Kendall Englehart said the donations can make a significant difference for families and help students begin the school year with greater confidence.

“This is more than school supplies. Every single piece of school supplies over there, it means something to a family. We’ve got people reaching out from all directions saying ‘They’re not ready for school, they don’t want to go, they don’t feel prepared,’ but every backpack in that mountain of backpacks is just a whole world for a child that’s a little anxious to go back to school. It’s a meaningful way that our community is making sure that they come in prepared to have a great year,” said Englehart.

Englehart said the effort is about more than providing students with supplies. She said having the items they need can also give students a sense of support and confidence as they return to the classroom.

The donated supplies will be distributed to schools across New Hanover and Pender counties ahead of the new school year.