Nonprofit to give supplies, backpacks to 2,000 students
A Madison nonprofit organization is working to give backpacks to students in need.
Backpacks for Success is free and in its 17th year.
The 100 Black Men of Madison hand out backpacks full of new school supplies to students in need but before Saturday’s giveaway event the group and volunteers hosted a stuffing party.
The event started as a picnic in 1996. The 100 Black Men of Madison had formed two years earlier to be a positive influence on African-American youth.
The program gives up to 2,000 backpacks every year with hope of eventually giving away one million of them.
Nonprofit to give supplies, backpacks to 2,000 students“It shows the importance of what we’re doing and shows the dedication the surrounding community has for the kids in the community,” said J.R. Sims with the 100 Black Men of Madison. “It’s very heartwarming and even though we have a lot of volunteers down here now, we can always use more.”
The backpacks are for Dane County elementary and middle school students. They can pick the backpacks up at Demetral Park on the east side on a first-come first-served basis.
