Volunteers from The Salvation Army Ridge Meadows Ministries and Ridge Church worked together to pack hundreds of backpacks with donated school supplies for students in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.

Through its Backpack Program, the organization has been working with School District 42, local churches, and community members to provide school supplies to more than 400 students every year, from kindergarten to Grade 12. The endeavour supports students as they begin the school year feeling prepared, confident, and ready to learn.

The organization’s goal is to give students the support they need to start the year right and focus on their education and future success. The initiative started in 1995 and has grown to support about 300 families and 400 individual students every year, with demand growing at about 12 per cent annually. This initiative is a great example of how local partnerships can make a real difference.

Ridge Church has supported The Salvation Army in different ways for more than 10 years, including helping with the Backpack Program and providing space for its temporary shelter. The Salvation Army hopes other churches, businesses, and community groups will also get involved through volunteering, donations, resources, or other support. To learn more about The Salvation Army Ridge Meadows and for organizations willing to get involved, please click here.

Source: The Salvation Army