TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – Kids helping kids; a group of teenagers is spending time packing book bags for kids in need.
Lucas County Children Services will distribute more than 1,000 book bags to kids in its care and kids with whom they work.
They don’t want any student to feel unprepared on the first day of school
19-year-old Jayla Ivy volunteers every year for Lucas County Children Services back-to-school drive.
She helps to organize supplies so no child goes back to school empty-handed.
“Not a lot of kids can, or parents can afford it,” said Jayla Ivy.
Ivy, along with several other teens and volunteers, will pack 900 book bags.
Lucas County Children Services public information officer, Kevin Milliken, says all the supplies were donated.
“Kids that have suffered abuse or neglect are no different from any other kid. They deserve a normal childhood. This is like Christmas in July, who doesn’t like a brand new backpack, the fresh smell of crayons and markers and glue, all that sort of stuff to start off the school year right,” said Milliken.
He said in this room full of supplies, the students aren’t just packing folders, pencils and markers.
They’re packing hope.
“It helps their learning. It helps her self-esteem and puts them on equal footing with all kids,” said Milliken.
Caseworkers will select what they need for kids on their caseloads and distribute the book bags in August.
Ivy says the supplies are one less thing for families to worry about.
“You don’t have to ask a friend or a teacher, ‘Can I borrow this?’” said Ivy.
Ivy says it’s proven that when kids have the right school supplies, they show up for school ready to learn.
Latest Local News | First Alert Weather | Crime | National | 13abc Originals
Copyright 2025 WTVG. All rights reserved.
This article was published by WTVG on 2025-07-31 17:30:00
View Original Post
