On Monday, Kathy Lampi and her crew from Backpacks for Kids Fort Frances handed off over 400 backpacks to children in the Rainy River District just in time for them to take to school next week.
The organizers received donations through cash and physical backpacks starting at the beginning of July from a variety of local organizations, businesses and private donors.
The bags will be distributed by Kenora-Rainy River District Child and Family Services and Weechi-It-Te-Win Family Services.
Lampi said they didn’t necessarily reveal their goal to the public in advance, but they were happy to reach 400 bags this year.
“We got 406 backpacks; 400 was our goal. We weren’t telling anybody, because we had 375 last year, but people were so giving,” Lampi said.
The group peppered the district with mailers to local businesses and organizations, who responded well, she said.
“We sent mailers out and emailed all the local district businesses,” she said. “The mine was a big help, and the Barwick mill, they were great. Gen 7 [gas station and convenience] they’re new to us for a couple of years, which has been great. But we kind of try to keep it within the Rainy River District. We have some that have been with us for 10 years now.”
The backpacks will be distributed by the two organizations to the clients they know need a hand with back-to-school gear.
“We do it with Family and Children’s Services as well as Weechi-It-Te-Win,” she said. “I let them take the reins on [distribution]. They know their people in need. I think people can contact them as well to get on the list.”
The bags are all stuffed with a few different things; some will have a water bottle, some will have lunch containers and other necessities, Lampi said.
“They all vary,” she said. “It could be crayons, pencil crayons, markers or other school supplies. Then there are water bottles; some have containers for sandwiches and other lunch stuff, just kind of basic things to go back to school. The big thing is that each kid would get a backpack, then we just put some extra paper and booklets and stuff in there for them.”
Lampi said they do their best to try to keep all of the shopping local as well.
“We buy everything local; we buy at the Dollarama, Walmart and The Bargain Shop,” she said. “Trying to keep local and buy local.”
Lampi has been working on the project for 10 years as of this year and has been assisted more recently by colleagues from Fort Frances Family Dentists, Paige Anderson and Kelsey Langtry.
Lampi said every year since she took over, the donation of backpacks has grown.
“It’s actually grown every year, it’s just a fun process,” she said.
