Neighbors 4 Neighbors

Backpack Project Provides For Kids In Need

To Help Support The Kids4Kids Backpack Project, Call Neighbors 4 Neighbors At 305-597-4404.

MIAMI (CBS4) ― Former teacher Beth Davis says, "Kids are identified on the first day of school.  There are the haves and the have-nots."

For eleven years, the Kids4Kids Backpack Project has provided 65,000 backpacks to kids in Miami-Dade and Broward County. The project has helped children who live in homeless shelters, families of migrant workers and those in low income schools.

When Davis noticed kids coming to school with their books in a paper bags, she decided to start this program and do something about it.

"They spare the kids the humiliation...instead of a high school kid walking in with a Publix bag and a pack of notebook paper, they walk in and they are just like everyone else" said Davis.

This year the program is at risk as the bad economy has affected their funding. Recently, Farm Share has acquired the program in hopes of saving it.

"We are going to need all the help we can we don't know if we can keep this up for another year like we have in the past two years" said Yvette Rodriguez of Farm Share.

This year only 5,000 back packs will be given out. In the past there was enough money for 6,000. Now the hope is that the community will step in to keep Kids4Kids up and running. The student volunteers hope that people donate money so they can keep this process going so other kids can have a happy school year.

If you'd like to help support the Kids4Kids Backpack project, give Neighbors 4 Neighbors a call at 305-597-4404.

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