Grafton, ND - North Star Community Credit Union held their second backpack exchange at their Grafton location on August 5th, 2015.� Throughout the summer, the credit union invited the community to drop off their gently used backpacks.� The credit union then cleaned them, and filled them with various school supplies as well as some fun Pee Wee Penguin items and other goodies.
Now that it is almost back to school time, the credit union held a special day for children to come with their parents to pick a "new to them" backpack for their new school year.� Last year, the credit union gave away 23 backpacks and set a goal to double it this year, which they did and then some!� With 67 backpacks on hand, the credit union was able to provide a backpack for every child that attended the event.� "What an amazing feeling!" said Nanci Gale-Wilson,�Member Service Manager.
The credit union did tweak their event a little bit based on what worked and did not work last year.� Using one of their empty offices, they set up a "backpack store" where one child at a time was allowed to come in and choose their bag.� This year, there was a two backpack per family limit, with a waiting list to call if there were extra backpacks available.� The children also had to be Pre-K through 6th grade to participate, and it was "first come, first serve".
"This is definitely something we will keep doing and now that we know what works, will be implementing at our other locations!" added Wilson.
Grafton, ND - North Star Community Credit Union held their second backpack exchange at their Grafton location on August 5th, 2015.� Throughout the summer, the credit union invited the community to drop off their gently used backpacks.� The credit union then cleaned them, and filled them with various school supplies as well as some fun Pee Wee Penguin items and other goodies.
Now that it is almost back to school time, the credit union held a special day for children to come with their parents to pick a "new to them" backpack for their new school year.� Last year, the credit union gave away 23 backpacks and set a goal to double it this year, which they did and then some!� With 67 backpacks on hand, the credit union was able to provide a backpack for every child that attended the event.� "What an amazing feeling!" said Nanci Gale-Wilson,�Member Service Manager.
The credit union did tweak their event a little bit based on what worked and did not work last year.� Using one of their empty offices, they set up a "backpack store" where one child at a time was allowed to come in and choose their bag.� This year, there was a two backpack per family limit, with a waiting list to call if there were extra backpacks available.� The children also had to be Pre-K through 6th grade to participate, and it was "first come, first serve".
"This is definitely something we will keep doing and now that we know what works, will be implementing at our other locations!" added Wilson.