By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
It’s backpack giveaway time again because schools in the Rim of the World Unified School District begin on Monday, Aug. 12. On Saturday, Aug. 3, there will be two backpack giveaways for the local students – one in Crestline and the other in Running Springs.
CRESTLINE
Students and their parents will line up early on Aug. 3 to choose their backpacks and fill them with school supplies.
Beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3, the annual Dennis Labadie Memorial Backpack Giveaway will distribute backpacks for Rim students and continue until they run out, at the Crestline Real Estate office at 23750 Knapps Cutoff at the corner of Lake Drive and Old Mill Road, in Crestline.
According to coordinator Rosemarie Labadie, this backpack give-away was started in 2002 by her husband, Dennis Labadie. He believed that children who began school on a positive note do better in school. By giving out backpacks to those who wanted them, it was his little way to encourage them to do their best in school. He knew that those who do better in school are more successful in life.
“My late husband, Dennis, started the backpack giveaway, remembering his childhood, growing up without much money in Detroit,” Rosemarie said. “Over the years, he bought thousands of packs for local students. My son Dominic and I have continued the giveaway as a memorial to him. Dennis believed if you give a child the tools they need, they can succeed in school. Please join us on Saturday morning.”
Dennis also knew, from his own life experiences, that students would be more excited to return to school with a new backpack and with proper school supplies that could enable them to perform better. Over the years, this has proved to be true, as many students have returned the next year to say thanks, saying having a new backpack got them off on the right foot.
The Crestline Lions Club and Crestline-Lake Gregory Rotary Club will fill the backpacks with age-appropriate school supplies, such as pencils or pens, paper, colored pencils or crayons and erasers, as they have done for several years as a community service. Both groups purchase these new supplies out of funds they earn from the community through their fundraisers. This is another way for them to give back, this time to benefit the youngsters of the community.
To receive a backpack, students must attend a school in the Rim of the World Unified School District and both a parent and the child must attend so the backpack can be properly sized to the student. All students in a family are eligible to get a backpack, but each child must attend to be fitted properly.
The backpacks are new and personally purchased by Rosemarie Labadie and her children. Anyone who wishes to assist her with that expense can drop off a donation at her office on Lake Drive at the corner of Old Mill Road and Knapps Cutoff, before or after the give-away event.
RUNNING SPRINGS
The Running Springs Area Chamber of Commerce (RSACC) is also hosting a backpack giveaway on that same Saturday, Aug. 3, also beginning at 9 a.m. at the weekly farmers market and artisan fair during Mountaintop Days.
Children who attend local mountain schools are eligible to get a backpack. They recommend that students bring their parents and stop by the chamber of commerce booth early in the market day to get a good choice of styles and color before they run out.
Last year, the RSACC gave out 150 backpacks of various colors and styles, stuffed with school supplies. If they run out of backpacks, since it is first-come first-choice, they usually will have some extra school supplies, which are given out until all is distributed. In past years, they have bought a majority of elementary sized backpacks, but they also try to get the some of the larger intermediate and high school sizes. Students get to choose from a variety of colors and themes from those they have available.
The backpack giveaway sponsors for the Running Springs area this year are Mountain Transit and Pali Mountain Camp.
“If anyone wants to donate to help the students of our community begin the school year better prepared, they can drop off supplies at Havenwood in Running Springs before Aug. 3 or we can accept monetary donations at the RSACC booth at the farmers market,” said Sherry Bridgeford, the RSACC office administrator. Donations may also be mailed to the chamber at P.O. Box 96, Running Spring, CA 92382.
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