July 19, 2023- PROBLEM: Many young students in our county struggle to have the basic school supplies they need. SOLUTION: You! And our amazingly giving community! In 2021, thanks to support from people like you, we provided 250 backpacks to school students. It was so popular that we increased the number to 500 in 2022. In 2023, we wanted to make it even better. We asked a number of local nonprofit and government agencies how many backpacks they might want to distribute if we could get them. The total was 1,900. What an order! But thanks to the generous sponsors listed below, the support of so many in our community, and all of the agencies that want to help get them out to kids, we are collectively getting 3,236 backpacks filled with school supplies into the hands of Monroe County students! What a great display of the power of community!

Here is a list of public distribution sites, days, and times. Please note that many distributions are only for children in specific programs at each nonprofit or agency.

• Clymer Library, 115 Firehouse Rd, Pocono Pines, PA 18350, Monday 7/24 from 10am-1pm and Tuesday 7/25 from 1-3pm
• Eastern Monroe Public Library (Hughes), 1002 PA 611 Stroudsburg, PA 18360, Thursday 8/3 from 1-3pm
• Pocono Services for Families and Children, Head Start health fair, 212 W 4th St, East Stroudsburg 18301, Wednesday 8/9 from 10am – 1pm
• Western Pocono Community Library, 131 Pilgrim Way Brodheadsville, PA 18322, Wednesday 8/9 from 1-5pm
• Pocono Services for Families and Children, health fair at The Mountain Center, 354 Memorial Blvd, Tobyhanna, PA 18466 Wednesday 8/16 from 10am – 1pm
• Early Learning Resource Center, 411 Main St. Suite 100-A, Stroudsburg, PA 18360, Thursday 8/17 from 9-11:30am, and Friday 8/18 from 1-3:30pm
• Angels & Dragonflies Back-to-School event, First Baptist Church of East Stroudsburg, 160 N Courtland St, East Stroudsburg, Saturday 8/19 from 10am – 2pm

Those looking for backpacks elsewhere may be able to get them at other agencies but may be required to be a registered client. These include Monroe County Children and Youth Services in Stroudsburg, PVEN Food Pantry in the West End, Salvation Army in Stroudsburg, YMCA in Stroudsburg, Bushkill Outreach Clothing Closet in Bushkill, and Angels and Dragonflies. Please contact your local agency to inquire.

This program would not be possible without the generosity of all of our sponsors!