In Ottawa, we believe every child deserves a fair start. Not just the children whose families can afford it. Every child. Will you help them?
Dear Friend,
Think back to your first day of school. The excitement of a brand-new backpack and a fresh start. What did your backpack mean to you? For many of us, it carried more than pencils and paper. It carried excitement, confidence, and happy memories. Today, for many parents, a backpack means stress.
Families in OCH communities want their children to have everything they need to be ready for school. But with the rising cost of food, transportation, clothing and other essentials, many families face impossible choices.
That’s exactly why Pack-a-Sack exists. Each year, Pack-a-Sack provides students from Kindergarten through Grade 12 with a new backpack filled with everything they need to start the school year with confidence. The same supplies as every other child in their class. The same fresh start.
For just $75, you can provide one student with everything they need to begin the school year ready to learn.
Oliver, a Grade 10 student, says he feels a “jolt of excitement” when he gets his backpack. He’s relieved to have what he needs to be a good student.
We believe every child in Ottawa deserves that feeling. It shouldn’t be a privilege, it’s a right.
For Ellen, watching her 8-year-old open her backpack is “like Christmas morning.” Her daughter excitedly explores everything inside and takes pride in having her own new school supplies. Ellen put it simply: ”When my child receives a backpack, the stress goes down, and I know they’ll have the same things as every other child.”
That’s it. That’s all any parent wants.
This year, we expect to provide more than 2,300 backpacks: the highest number in Pack-a-Sack’s history. But we need your support to ensure no student is left behind.
Will you make a gift today? Whatever amount feels right for you, your generosity will help students begin the school year ready to succeed. Because a backpack is never just a backpack. For a child, it can be the difference between feeling left out and feeling ready to start the school year off on the right foot.
Thank you for helping students start the school year with the tools they need and the confidence they deserve.
With gratitude,
Lindsey Ziebell
Manager, Programs and Operations
OCH Foundation
P.S. A backpack may seem small, but for a child, it can change their entire school year. Please donate today.
