ELYRIA – If you see an elementary school child wearing a bright neon green or neon orange backpack this school year, chances are the child attends from Crestwood Elementary.
Thanks to Costco, each of the school’s 380 students got a new, brightly colored backpack Monday on the first day of classes. The backpacks were given to the school after store representatives contacted building Principal Sherri Parent at the end of last school year.
The Avon store wanted to adopt a class or two and furnish students with new backpacks in time for the new school year. But Parent said that after she told the manager about the need at Crestwood, the store decided that every student would receive a nylon bag.
“We wanted every student to have one because it’s about unity and not singling anyone out because they may need it more than others,” she said. “But truthfully, nowadays everyone is a little grateful for what they get.”
Parent said parents knew heading into the summer that the backpacks were coming and many were grateful that they wouldn’t have to buy one.
Still, getting the backpacks into the hands of every students wasn’t easy.
Two parent-volunteers used a metallic pen to write the name of each student on the back of the bags before handing them off to the students.
Going through his new backpack with enthusiasm, fourth-grader Joseph Rodgers smiled once he realized that the bag also contained two folders, a ruler, a pencil pouch, a bottle of glue, a glue stick, an eraser and scissors.
“I’ve got scissors and glue,” he said holding one in each hand over his head.
Joseph almost missed his pencil pouch. But his little brother, Robbie Rodgers, a first-grader, quickly chimed in, Look in the pocket. We all got one.”
Knowing her students would be just a little more prepared for the year is the best back-to-school gift she could have ever received, Parent said,
“Even if the parent bought one, they will have an extra one to get them through the year,” she said.
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