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The youth group at the Radha Krishna Mandir and Cultural Centre in Cambridge has been gathering backpacks for kids who really need them.
This effort is part of the Waterloo Regional Police Service’s backpack challenge, and the youth group has been involved for three years now.
Yashmita Narine, a youth outreach member from the Hindu temple, said they managed to collect more backpacks than ever this year by getting people of all ages from the temple community involved.
“Three years ago we were able to do 300. I think last year we got to 1,200,” Narine said. This year, thanks to everyone’s help at the temple, they collected 1,400 backpacks and handed them over to police on Monday.
“When we started the group, it was just a bunch of high school kids,” Narine said.
“A lot of these youths that were in need were our age and so it kind of hit home for us having to know that so many kids need backpacks to go to school every year. They’re pretty essential.”
Members of the Radha Krishna Mandir and Cultural Centre have helped hundreds of children in need by taking part in the Waterloo Regional Police Service’s annual backpack challenge. (Yashmita Narine)
The yearly drive hopes to collect 5,000 backpacks this time around along with various school supplies and gift cards.
Cherri Greeno, director of corporate affairs for the police service, mentioned that community support is what’s keeping this program going strong.
She added that over 3,000 families have already signed up to get a backpack this year.
Volunteers from the Radha Krishna Mandir and Cultural Centre dropped off 1,400 backpacks at a Waterloo Regional Police division on Monday. (Yashmita Narine)
“It’s really about giving every child a fair start to the school year. It’s about boosting their confidence so they can put their focus on learning and really send them back to school with a smile, feeling confident, feeling proud and ready just to start a successful school year,” Greeno said.
The WRPS actually went beyond their donation goal last year by collecting around 6,500 backpacks for kids who needed them.
If anyone wants to donate backpacks or school supplies, they can drop stuff off at any police division across Waterloo region until this week ends.
