In the Citizens Bank lobby are the carts loaded with backpacks.

The two school buses are coming up William Penn Way, and Citizens Bank staff members are there to welcome them.

 

HCEF staff members review the all-important spread sheet identifying what bags of backpacks go on which bus, two volunteers mount the HCEF banner on the side of a bus, and the opened back door of a bus signals it's time to start the loading process.

 

Carlin checks her spreadsheet to reconfirm which bags go on which bus and then signals the eager volunteers to begin the loading.

 

It never hurts to double check, of course.

 

One last check, Carlin.

The job is almost completed. Cart after cart has been emptied and returned to the bank lobby, sometimes after a brief layover along the window wall;

the banner is being taken down from the bus in preparation for hitting the road;

the HCEF staff and volunteers pose for a photo before everyone participating in the distribution of the backpacks boards the buses.

and the wheels on the bus go round and round, all across the city and county.

First stop: the Salvation Army Family Care Center

It seems most appropriate that we pause to honor and say a fond farewell to our dear friend and colleague, Director of Educational Programs Carlin Christy. This event was the last on her to-do list before she left HCEF to assume a 2-year position with Witness for Peace in southern Mexico.

You GO, girl!!

Oh, don't forget your spread sheet!

HCEF's mission is the message of this event: to provide facility-based programming designed to ensure that children who are homeless have access to the same educational opportunities as their peers. And a new backpack for the first day of school, though seemingly insignificant, helps make a child living in a homeless facility the peer of every other child entering the classroom.

Return to Gear for Grades

(8/18/10)