120 Kilograms of Care: Getting Ready for School Together
Volunteers combined a school supply drive, creative initiatives and a children's celebration to help prepare for school
The "Pack a Backpack for a Child" campaign at the "Do Good, Ukraine" Volunteer Center brought together people, creative ideas and different areas of volunteer work for a common goal - to help children prepare for the new school year. Volunteers collected school supplies, sorted them, assembled school kits and looked for new ways to involve as many caring people as possible in this good cause.
The "Dary Dobro" charity shop played an important role in the collection. Starting July 10, visitors and friends of the shop brought essential school items: notebooks, pens, pencils, paints, modeling clay, pencil cases and even books for first graders. In total, 30 kilograms of school supplies were collected and handed over to the center's volunteers for distribution to children and families in need of support.
People also contributed to the collection through creativity. One volunteer suggested turning handmade crafts into a charity initiative by exchanging handmade items for school supplies. Volunteers donated their creations, and the school supplies received in return were added to the collection. In this way, skills and imagination became another way to help children - every handmade item brought the moment closer when someone's backpack would be filled with essential learning materials.
At the same time, volunteers shared not only supplies but also knowledge. As part of the "Volunteer Training" project, TDU volunteers had previously attended a workshop on pripynda weaving, where they learned a new jewelry-making technique. Later, they passed these skills on to members of the "Je World Junior" club. During the creative gathering, juniors learned to weave jewelry together with their mothers and grandmothers, while volunteers guided them and shared their experience. School kits were also prepared for the young participants, combining an enjoyable creative activity with practical support ahead of the new school year.
Gradually, the collected donations were turned into ready-to-use kits. Thanks to joint efforts, six large boxes of school supplies weighing around 120 kilograms were collected. Volunteers received and sorted the items, checked the donations and assembled the kits. As a result, 30 complete sets of essential school supplies were prepared. Additional books, notebooks and stationery were also left over and could be used to supplement the main kits according to the children's needs.
But the campaign was about more than backpacks and notebooks. Volunteers also organized a wonderful little celebration for primary school students from the SI service. Children took part in a creative workshop making wreaths, created their own decorations, danced at a small disco right in the courtyard and enjoyed spending time together. Life-size costumed characters and soap bubbles from the "Chag Sameach" project added to the festive atmosphere. At the end, the children received school kits prepared as part of the campaign - essential learning supplies along with bright memories and good spirits.
This story showed how much can be achieved when everyone contributes in their own way. Some brought school supplies to the shop, others made handmade crafts, some taught children a new technique, while others sorted items and assembled kits. Every contribution became part of a shared effort that brought together different generations and areas of the volunteer center's work.
We sincerely thank everyone who supported "Pack a Backpack for a Child": visitors and friends of "Dary Dobro," volunteers, participants in creative gatherings and everyone who contributed their time, talent and care to this initiative. More good deeds lie ahead, and the 30 prepared kits have already become an important step toward a confident start to the school year for children. Together, we create opportunities, bring joy and show that great help begins with small acts of kindness.