BANGOR, Maine — A 13-year-old from Brewer donated more than 500 backpacks to the We’ve Got Your Back Drive at Penquis, a nonprofit in Bangor that helps low to moderate income families.
Ava Burke has been collecting and donating backpacks for students around Maine who need them since she was 6 years old.
“It makes me feel really good knowing that the kids are getting what they need to go back to school, and they're gonna be confident doing it,” Burke said.
When Burke was just 6 years old, she decided that for her birthday she wanted backpacks instead of presents to help kids who need it.
She started with 12 backpacks. In the seven years since, she has donated more than 500.
“It's just kind of grown so much that it's a lot more than a birthday present,” Burke said.
This year Burke received donations from her friends, family, as well as local businesses and organizations to help her buy more backpacks than ever.
“It's just great that the whole community has just kind of come together to support what I do,” Burke said.
The Penquis We’ve Got Your Back Drive helps kids get the school supplies they need.
“It means so much to us,” Renae Muscatell, Penquis Community Relations Manager said.
About 1,200 children from Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Knox counties will be receiving the supplies, and many are going to Penquis next week to pick out backpacks.
“They see the backpack that they want, and they put it on their shoulders with a little bit of confidence, you know, excited for the new school year,” Muscatell said.
Muscatell said many low to moderate income families they work with can’t afford any new school supplies.
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“It's families that are having trouble, you know, getting food on the table, gas in the car,” Muscatell said. “So, this really, really helps parents.”
Burke said she want to continue collecting backpacks for as long as she can.
“If you can donate, please do,” Burke said. “It feels really good knowing that you're helping the community, and it doesn't have to be big, you can just donate like $10, and that can still get a kid a backpack.”
If you would like to donate a backpack or other school supplies, Penquis is still accepting donations 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Or you can give online on Penquis’ website.