Salvation Army holding backpack stuffing for back to school preparation

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- As the school year approaches, local organizations are helping stuff backpacks for students of all grades.

The Salvation Army is packing backpacks for students in need of a variety of school supplies. This includes pencils, markers, notebooks and more.

"It's important that all kids get the opportunity to go back to school with not only the supplies they need, but the supplies they want," Salvation Army Social Services Director Emily Bravo said. "They get (to choose) the backpacks they want."

Roughly 600 backpacks have been filled so far, with the goal being to have anywhere between 900 to 1,000 ready to distribute by Thursday.

Dave Eggleston, a longtime volunteer with International Paper, appreciates that anyone can give back and assist kids in the community in an immeasurably valuable way. 

"It's awesome for us as international paper to go out and help with the kids," Eggleston said. "We try to do it every year, knowing that kids can't go to school without the (essential) supplies. We have people from our work bringing their grandkids here to help out. You get (people of) all ages, from youth to the elderly, helping out with this."

The backpacks will be distributed at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7, at 602 Messanie St.

Extra backpacks will be made available once the distribution has finished, at the United Way of Greater St. Joseph.

For more information on how to volunteer or questions about the backpacks, call the Salvation Army (816)-232-5824.