The computer lab at St. Andrew's School in Delavan is now a "store" where teachers can find school supplies, clothes and personal care items for students in need.
The computer lab at St. Andrew's School in Delavan is now a "store" where teachers can find school supplies, clothes and personal items for students in need.
St. Andrew's School Principal Maureen Mathew meets with Joe Froelich, co-director of Chicago-based nonprofit Enchanted Backpack, after the nonprofit arrived with tens of thousands of dollars worth of supplies to donate to the Delavan parochial school Thursday.
DELAVAN — St. Andrew’s School in Delavan on Thursday accepted tens of thousands of dollars in school supplies and other items from the Chicago nonprofit Enchanted Backpack, to distribute to students in need.
The computer lab at St. Andrew's School in Delavan is now a "store" where teachers can find school supplies, clothes and personal care items for students in need.
RYAN SPOEHR/RYAN.SPOEHR@APG-SW.COM
Students, volunteers and Principal Maureen Mathew welcomed representatives from the organization and a bus full of items that was delivered to the Walworth County parochial school. Nine volunteers helped unload the bus, which had pre-loaded dollies wrapped with boxes of supplies and clothes, and helped unbox everything. Enchanted backpack required 8-10 volunteers to be on hand for Thursday’s unloading.
Enchanted Backpack donates $10,000 to $40,000 worth of supplies to elementary and middle schools that complete an application process via its website. It was not confirmned to St. Andrews the exact cost of the items donated to it.
To qualify, half or more of a school’s student population must be eligible for free or reduced lunch.
The computer lab at St. Andrew's School in Delavan is now a "store" where teachers can find school supplies, clothes and personal items for students in need.
RYAN SPOEHR/RYAN.SPOEHR@APG-SW.COM
On Thursday, the school received some of each of the following items: colored pencils, notebooks, paper, crayons, erasers, markers, pencil sharpeners, erasers, glue sticks, highlighters, pencils, pens, folders, Post-It Notes, scissors, tape, binders, a game room rug, deoderant, toothbrushes, t-shirts, coats, shoes, sweatshirts, underwear, hula hoops, balls, puzzles, travel games, a chest box, books, socks and sweatpants.
Mathew said she was told there was a possibility of receiving more than basic school supplies.
She said she was “extremely surprised” to see not only shoes, but the amount of toiletries and T-shirts.
“They thought of everything,” Mathew said, adding that books will be good for both the school library and individual classroom libraries. Donated balls will supplement physical education department existing supplies.
Mathew added, “I was extremely surprised to see shoes, a lot of toiletries, deodorant, toothbrushes, T-shirts, children’s toys, games, puzzles, along with regular school supply items.”
The van itself was larger than Mathew expected.
“When it really hit me, the amount of school supplies, was when everything had been unloaded into our computer lab and seeing all the stacks of boxes there,” Mathew said.
After everything was unloaded, volunteers unwrapped the dollies and sorted items from all the boxes. The computer lab will now be a “store” to shop in for teachers, Mathew said. Teachers will be able to choose items for their classrooms and for individual students in need.
St. Andrew's School Principal Maureen Mathew meets with Joe Froelich, co-director of Chicago-based nonprofit Enchanted Backpack, after the nonprofit arrived with tens of thousands of dollars worth of supplies to donate to the Delavan parochial school Thursday.
RYAN SPOEHR/RYAN.SPOEHR@APG-SW.COM
“It’s a tremendous generosity on the part of this nonprofit, and a tremendous gift to our teachers, students and community at large,” Mathew said.
“Some kids come to school at the beginning of the school year without school supplies because their family can’t afford them,” Mathew said. “Our teachers often, on their own accord, dip into their own pockets to provide for their students.”
By November, some school supplies are getting depleted, Mathew said.
“This is when teachers start asking students to bring in more supplies. We are a Catholic school with limited resources. Unfortunately, the school can’t go out and buy all these supplies for 150 kids,” Mathew said. “We are just so excited to have this for our teachers so they don’t have to spend their own money.”
When the bus arrived, students were waiting outside with posterboards welcoming Enchanted Backpack representatives.
Joe Froelich, co-director at Enchanted Backpack, said it’s moments like that “make it fun.”
“It’s a celebration for us,” Froelich said. “It’s great timing for us with the winter and for those in need.”
This was the second time Enchanted Backpack has made a delivery to a school in Wisconsin. It had previously made a delivery to a school in Lake Geneva.
