The 27th annual Congregations for Kids’ Good Start Back to School drive for backpacks and
monetary donations for customized kits of school supplies for 3649 students from low-income
families in the Bellevue School District takes place July 17-August 7 in the Narthex.

Please bring donations to the yellow school bus there, where an envelope for money and checks (made out
to Congregations for Kids/EISCC) is attached. What makes this project unique is that it helps
specific students requested by the district – 80% more than the 2000+ students helped last
year.   This huge increase comes from students in families fleeing gang violence in Guatemala
and war in Ukraine, more unaccompanied minors and homeless students, as well as students in
families who used to be able to make it on their own but who no longer can.  Actual cost of
backpacks and supplies varies – $18.44 for elementary (averaged), $21.15 for middle school and
$18.70 for high school. For more information, please contact Shauna Backus,
shaunalbackus@gmail.com; Nancy Jacobs, bnjacobs@frontier.com or Eileen Treusch,
etreusch@gmail.com. Those interested in volunteering during the project should contact
Eileen. Please see additional information at www.congregations4kids.org.  Additional flyers
with stories about some of the students helped this past year are available by the school bus.
Monetary donations will also help pay for additional backpacks. Thanks so much for your
support!