Aspiring to Inspire by Collecting Backpacks

When students go back to Thursday, they will learn the typical lessons of reading, writing and arithmetic.

But during the first full week of school, they may learn one of the most important lessons of all – helping others in need.

The Thomas Jefferson Parent-Teacher Organization is teaming up with the Joliet-based Aspire.Inspire Foundation to collect new and gently used backpacks and school supplies to send to areas that have been hard hit by natural disasters, are caught in conflict or are living in extreme poverty.

Margaret Kantor, one of the drive organizers and a co-vice-president of the Thomas Jefferson PTO, said deciding to participate in the charity collection is a “no-brainer.”

“The Thomas Jefferson PTO has always been about giving back to the community,” she said. “It makes us all feel good.”

She said it also serves as a great teaching tool to the students to help others who may not have the essentials to go to school.

This is the third year that the school will be participating in Aspire.Inspire’s backpack project.

In prior years, the group has sent its back-to-school items to hurricane victims in New Orleans and earthquake victims in Haiti.

In its first year of collecting, Thomas Jefferson students also sent supplies to Iraqi children through a parent soldier who was stationed there, Kantor said. Thomas Jefferson students were thrilled to see photos and videos of Iraqi children accepting their donations, she said.

“The premise is that when everything else around them is falling apart, they can still have a backpack and attend school,” Kantor said.

This year, supplies will be sent to Tanzania in October.

The collection drive will take place from Aug. 22 to 26 at the school, 1900 Oxford Way, Joliet, and is open to the community.