School is Cool Needs Donations to Distribute 2,500 Supply-Filled Backpacks

Colorado State University’s annual "School is Cool" program to benefit Fort Collins-area students needs help collecting supplies and donations for 2,500 backpacks that will be distributed this August. The program, now in its 18th year, is organized and managed by CSU employees who volunteer their time to provide backpacks filled with much-needed school supplies to less-fortunate elementary, middle and high school students in the Poudre School District.  

Last year the program provided 2,300 backpacks to schools in and around Fort Collins. The Windsor School District also received 250 backpacks following the devastating tornadoes that damaged and destroyed hundreds of homes. Since 1991, School is Cool has provided supplies that have helped more than 18,700 local students in 37 schools.

Each school determines which students will receive the supplies based on need. That need is increasing: Statistics indicate the Poudre School District’s free and reduced-lunch program, in which 25 percent of elementary students typically participate, has jumped 22 percent in a year.

A $20 sponsorship will ensure that a student has the supplies they need. This amount will sponsor a backpack filled with school supplies specifically designated for that student’s grade level. Backpacks are filled with an average of 12 items ranging from crayons to three-ring binders to paper products to scissors.

Volunteers will organize and stuff the backpacks at the Livestock Judging Pavilion on the CSU campus August 4 and 5.  Distribution of the filled backpacks will take place August 6.

For more information, or to donate, visit www.colostate.edu/schooliscool.   

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