Delaware nonprofit hosts backpack drive for homeless children

Claymont’s Faith Victory Christian Center is gearing up for its second annual backpack drive fundraiser this Friday. 

All proceeds from the dinner and silent auction will go towards buying 1000 backpacks and school supplies for homeless children and children living in shelters in Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. 

“These children, a lot of times, their parents are in unfortunate situations, foreclosures, and so they don’t have the finances to get a lot of simple things like a backpack and school supplies,” said the nonprofit’s Bethanie Walker.

The church gave away 500 backpacks stuffed with school supplies last year, and it hopes to double that number this year.

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“Homelessness and poverty adversely affect a child’s academic success in school, and it also affects their self-esteem negatively. So we decided to begin doing this to counteract that,” Walker said.

Walker says the backpacks will be given away Aug. 4th, at Alapocas Run State Park in Wilmington. The kids, who often come with their shelters, will be able to enjoy a free, fun-filled afternoon of carnival games, moonbounces and tasty barbecue. And at the end of it all, Walker says, the children will walk away with stuffed backpacks.

“It just boosts their self-esteem. From day one they have everything that they need to be successful in school.”

Friday’s fundraiser, April 20, will be held at the New Castle County Irish Society, 1301 S. Rodney Street in Wilmington from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person, $60 per couple, group discounts are also available.

For tickets and information, contact Faith Victory Christian Center at 302-354-6726 or via email at faithvictory@verizon.net. 

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