Published: Thursday, September 18, 2008
Newbury Port News

The Pettengill House, Inc. would like to thank the community for its outpouring of support for Operation Backpack, our annual back-to-school supply drive. With the help of numerous businesses, churches, organizations, families and individuals throughout the community, we were able to fill over 240 backpacks with school supplies and distribute them to area children. This brings our four-year total to 1,588 distributed filled backpacks. We wish that all of our donors could have seen the faces of the children as they looked inside their brand new backpacks! What a great start for all of them!

In addition to everyone who so generously donated backpacks and supplies, we would like to thank the following businesses, organizations and churches who partnered with us in this program: Wal-Mart, The Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank, Stone Ridge Properties, Latitude Sports Club, Stop & Shop, The Boys and Girls Club, The Fitness Factory, Hope Community Church, Brownie Troop 231 of Merrimac and Girl Scout Troop 358 of Georgetown. This program could not have been successful without your generous support.

We would also like to thank the following volunteers who worked hard to collect and sort donations: Linda Lebreque, Courtney Harris, Sarah Lombardi, Stacie Tanzella, Dan Mclaughlin and the Teens at the Boys and Girls Club summer program.

On behalf of Deborah Smith, our executive director, and our staff and Board of Directors, we thank everyone who supported this program, and helped us in our goal of helping all children start school prepared and ready to learn. Thank you so much.

Megan Harris

Program coordinator, Pettengill House

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