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Ahead of the first day of school, Suffolk Public Schools and the Suffolk Sheriff’s Office partnered to donate backpacks to SPS students in need.

On Wednesday, Aug. 21, SPS officials and Sheriff officers collaborated to distribute backpacks and school supplies to Project HOPE, Virginia’s program for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, administered by William and Mary for the Virginia Department of Education. Backpacks and school supplies will be given to SPS students under the project. During the effort, Sheriff David Miles talked about the donation, reflecting on their yearly back-to-school supply drive, assisting Suffolk Public Schools with supplies for students and families.

 “Joe and Kathy Kenda have generously donated backpacks to our event for several years. This year, we learned about Project HOPE and donated the Kenda’s backpacks directly. Additionally, thanks to funds donated by Southern Bank, each backpack included school supplies,” Miles said. “We are happy to host our annual school supply drive supporting our local school system each year.”

 Miles says that SPS Coordinator of Student Services David LeFevre will help distribute the backpacks to the students. Also attending the effort, SPS Superintendent Dr. John B. Gordon III thanked both Project HOPE and the Sheriff’s Office for their “partnership and generosity.”

“I think everyone in the city is a strong believer [in] doing whatever they can to make sure that the kids get off to a great start,” Gordon said. “First time that we’re having a pre-labor day start in Suffolk Public Schools history, so getting off to a great start one week earlier, we think, is going to be really important for the rest of the school year.”

For more information on Project HOPE, go to projecthopevirginia.org.