Group works to get kids ready for school year


Brenda Galloway and Danielle Sullivan of the Community Health Department/Health Care for the Homeless/Vietnamese Health Project at Mercy Medical Center look over a sampling of donated school supplies from employees.

By Lori O'Brien, Correspondent

SPRINGFIELD Colorful pencils and pens, spiral notebooks, protractors and much more will soon be jampacked into backpacks for children of all ages in area homeless shelters.

Children can feel empowered on the first day of school having all the tools they need and sensing this basic need, the staff of the Community Health Department/Health Care for the Homeless/Vietnamese Health Project at Mercy Medical Center has spent countless hours collecting donated school supplies from employees throughout the Sisters of Providence Health System (SPHS). Mercy Medical Center is an entity of the SPHS.

The Health Care for the Homeless staff will soon be hand delivering the backpacks to the families so children can prepare for the start of the school year, according to Doreen Fadus, Executive Director, Community Health Department/Health Care for the Homeless/Vietnamese Health Project.

Fadus explained during an interview with Reminder Publications that, on average, 80 backpacks for both school-age children and toddlers are stuffed with the "basics," pencils, pens, ruler, eraser, markers, brightly colored notebooks, scotch tape, a water bottle and much more. In addition, the Credit Union of the Providence System on the Mercy Medical Center campus has been collecting children's books for several months and will be donating them so that youngsters will also have an assortment of books in their backpacks.

"The most important aspect of the program is allowing a school-age homeless child to enter school the first day, prepared with classroom supplies, and not entering with a feeling of being different than other kids," said Fadus. "All children feel pride and get self-esteem from their backpacks."

Toddlers also receive a small backpack with toddler crayons and a health-related coloring book so they don't feel left out, added Fadus.

Children residing in family shelters including those in Springfield will benefit from the school supply collection program. In previous years, children in shelters in Northampton and Greenfield have also received backpacks.

"We thought school supplies would be a great way to address the needs of some of our children besides the toys and surprises they get at Christmas," said Fadus. "It also enforces our commitment to homeless children and insuring that their educational programs are not interrupted while they are experiencing homelessness."

Granby resident Brenda Galloway, a case manager with the Community Health Department, has spearheaded the annual school supply collection which is now in its sixth year.

In addition to the enjoyment Galloway and others have of stuffing the backpacks full of books and basic necessities, the resounding theme is watching the faces of children when they are handed their own backpack for school.

"Children are appreciative and love the cool stuff they are given," said Galloway, adding that the mothers also always express their gratitude for the thoughtfulness of others.