Donations sought for Kiski Area's back-to-school backpack giveaway in August

The Kiski Area School District is collecting back-to-school supplies for a districtwide summer event.

This year’s 2nd Annual Back-To-School Backpack Bash will be held on Aug. 10 at Kiski Area High School.

The district is asking the public to donate backpacks, school supplies and general hygiene items at any of the district’s six campuses, now through Aug. 8.

The event first launched in 2019, then the pandemic forced a hiatus of the program, said Kiski Area High School Principal Chad Roland.

“The need is all-inclusive. It’s driven by the student that needs,” Roland said. “We will have leftover supplies, and if a student can’t attend the Bash, they can tell a teacher and we can help them.”

Kiski Area has an enrollment of about 3,400 students on six campuses.

Backpack Bash co-organizers are Kiski Area school resource officer Charity Hollis and high school English teacher Emily DePanicis-Saxion.

Additionally, donations are accepted online via an Amazon wishlist, available here.

Donations may be dropped off in collection bins located in the entryways of any school in the district.

“We need your help,” DePanicis-Saxion said. “We want to be able to provide any student in the district that might otherwise not be able to start off the first day of school with supplies the opportunity to have the same supplies as any other student.”

Kiski Area High School life skills students and Key Club members are handling collection duties and will continue organizing donations throughout the summer.

In 2019, more than 200 backpacks were given away. Organizers said they hope to exceed that number this year.

Saxion said right now though, more backpacks are needed.

“We need all sizes, in all grades — k-12,” Saxion said.

Kiski Area High School junior Aubrey Carion is a Key Club member. She said some students worry about being singled out if they ask for anything.

“A lot of kids will compare backpacks, and it shouldn’t matter,” Aubrey said. “We just want everybody to have what they need for school.”

Items accepted include general school supplies such as notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons and markers.

Hygiene items include deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, soaps and body wash.

No sharp objects or items with alcohol, such as mouthwash, will be accepted.

The Back-To-School Backpack Bash will offer free haircuts, face painting, costumed super heroes and princess actors and food.

More details will be available this summer.

Student and their families will be allowed to “shop,” for free, from the donated items.

“They can individualize their choices, depending on what they need,” Saxion said. “And last time the kids had a good time shopping.”

No registration is required.