The Owens Community College Alumni Association recently donated over 370 backpacks and more than 8,200
school supply items to elementary schools throughout Northwest Ohio.
One of the groups receiving supplies was the Community Learning Centers of Wood County, serving sites at
Glenwood Elementary in Rossford, Lark Elementary School (Northwood), Weston Elementary School in the
Otsego district, Powell Elementary in North Baltimore, Luckey Elementary in Eastwood, Kenwood Elementary
School in Bowling Green, Brunner Elementary School in Genoa and Woodmore Elementary.
The donations for “Backpack to the Future” were collected in collaboration with Books-A-Million and three
Great Lakes Credit Union branches.
“The impressive response area residents and businesses continue to make to the ‘Backpack to the Future’
supply drive is outstanding,” said Kaye Koevenig, Owens Alumni Association community service chairwoman.
“There are many families that can barely afford to pay their bills and may not be able to provide their
children with new supplies. Our goal is to ensure that such occurrences do not happen and that all
children begin their school year with new educational resources.”
Over the past three months, “Backpack to the Future” accepted gently-used or new backpacks and new school
supplies from area residents to assist disadvantaged school children throughout Northwest Ohio.
In addition to backpacks, individuals donated crayons, markers, bottles of glue, glue sticks, colored
pencils, pencils, pink erasers, school boxes, pocket folders, marbled covered composition books and
Kleenex tissues.
“I want to thank Owens Community College for their generous donation of backpacks and school supplies,”
said Warren Fauver, director of the Community Learning Centers of Wood County.
“Family needs are up nearly everywhere as a result of the economy and these supplies make a significant
difference in providing students with the much needed resources to fully engage in the learning
process.”
In addition to the donated supplies, the program collected over $1,380 from community members. The
charitable donations go toward the purchase of even more school supplies.
“I like using my hands to paint, clap, color and write my letters,” said one excited student at Glenwood
Elementary School, during the donation ceremony.
The Owens Alumni Association established “Backpack to the Future” supply drive in 2004 as a way to
provide educational outreach to the surrounding communities.
To date, the program has given over 1,520 backpacks and more than 25,710 school supplies to benefit
disadvantaged children throughout Northwest Ohio.
Owens’ Kaye Koevenig helps a Glenwood Elementary student try on a donated backpack. Over 370 backpacks
and more than 8,200 school supplies were collected by’ the alumni association.
