BACKPACK PROJECT

Education

December 2, 2009

Edgecombe social workers join project

FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER The Daily Southerner Wed Dec 02, 2009, 10:03 AM EST

In Edgecombe County, 30 local children in need will receive backpacks full of school supplies and food items as a result of the efforts of school social workers from the Edgecombe County Public School District and the NC School Social Workers’ Association (NCSSWA).

More than 1,400 backpacks have been provided to needy school-aged children across the state through a partnership between NCSSWA, the NC Homeless Education Program and the international relief organization, Feed the Children.

Each backpack is filled with school supplies, non-perishable food, books and personal care items for priority distribution to children and youth identified as homeless.

Lead school social worker Carol Cobb met with colleagues, John Cooper and Shannon Hamm to get the backpacks ready for Edgecombe children.

“This is a great service provided for our local children by the sponsoring organizations,” said Cobb. “We have a significant number of children in need, probably more than most people realize.

"I wish we could provide a backpack like this for every one of them.”

Nationally, over 1.5 million children and youth were identified as homeless in 2008. In North Carolina, almost 17,000 school-aged children fell into this category during the 2007-08 school year.

Edgecombe County has identified 29 homeless children currently within the public school system.

Cobb, Cooper, and Hamm are part of the ECPS Student Support Services staff.

Dr. Vonda Thweatt is the director of that department, which includes school social workers, guidance counselors, school nurses, the Safe and Drug Free Schools Program and other programs that support instruction.

Text Only

Education

Search Results

BACKPACK PROJECT

Edgecombe social workers join project

Site Map