Ms. WATSON. I would like to congratulate the National Foundation for
Women Legislators for working to distribute thousands of backpacks
filled with school supplies in every U.S. State and Puerto Rico.
These backpacks have been donated by Office Depot and are being
distributed to at-risk and disadvantaged youth. As lawmakers we
introduce and pass legislation every year that affects our Nation's
youth. We talk about statistics and reading performance and free lunch
programs, but we do not talk enough about ensuring that all students
have the school supplies they need to perform both inside and out of
the classroom.
Office Depot's National Backpack Program, now in its seventh year, is
designed to make a difference in communities across the country and put
backpacks in the hands of underprivileged and "at-risk" children so
they have the tools they need to start the school year. Beginning in
2001 with 80,000 backpacks donated nationwide, the program has expanded
to deliver 100,000 backpacks in 2002 and in 2003 and 2004, the program
was increased to 200,000 backpacks containing school supplies. In 2005, the program grew to 300,000 backpacks with school supplies and finally, in 2006, 300,000 backpacks were again donated by Office Depot across North America and in Puerto Rico, totaling more than 1 million backpacks in the hands of children since the inception of the program.
Sadly, there are hundreds of thousands of children who can not afford
the basic supplies they need for school. This backpack initiative not
only alleviates some of the financial burden from the many single-
family households that are stretching their budget and have enough to
worry about paying for food and bills, but it also allows their
children to have the pride of being able to start the school year the
right way.
I am proud to say that 1,000 backpacks will be delivered to the
Bradley Elementary School in my home district. I ask all of my
colleagues in this United States Congress to join me in recognizing the
National Foundation for Women Legislators and their partnership with
Office Depot, whose efforts to empower our children and provide them
the tools they need to be successful in school and in life are to be
commended.
