For the 13th consecutive year, JFS of Metrowest has provided backpacks with school supplies to hundreds of children in need in our community! The Build-A-Backpack Events not only supply essential items but also bring families together, fostering a spirit of community support and engagement.
The Build-A-Backpack events are part of JFS’ Pathways to Academic Growth, Empowerment and Success (PAGES) initiative. PAGES is a comprehensive program aimed at addressing the academic, social, and basic needs of low-income children from immigrant families in Framingham. After these events take place, the filled backpacks are distributed through the JFS/FPS Resource Room where families can also select seasonal clothing, footwear and personal care items so they can their spend limited financial resources on other necessities such as rent, food and medical care.
This August, JFS set an ambitious goal to double our impact from previous years, and our community rose to the challenge! The students of The Rashi School were determined to increase their donations and, inspired by their initiative, many others followed suit resulting in 450 backpacks being packed this year. We are also thankful to the many donors who sent contributions through our Amazon Wishlist which helped offset the total cost of the backpacks.
Since the inception of the Build-a-Backpack program, JFS has donated over 5,000 backpacks to students at Framingham Public Schools and other children in need in the Metrowest community.
This year, 105 families participated in these events, volunteering their time to support this cause and demonstrating our incredible community spirit. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to meeting this vital need!
Special thanks to our hosts – The Rashi School, The Grossman Family, Temple Shir Tikva, Temple Beth Elohim, and the Weston Library – for providing the spaces for our events. We also extend our deepest gratitude to the volunteers, community partners, donors, and current and former Board Members who made these events possible.
Special shoutouts to:
- Axie Breen (volunteer photographer)
- Sheldon Golder (volunteer photographer)
- JFS Youth Board Members Ben Gelber and Ben Myers, and Rashi Student Leadership
- JFS Board Member Rabbi Danny Burkeman of Temple Shir Tikva
- JFS Board Member Jake Grossman and his family
Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Build-A-Backpack event a resounding success! Together, we are making a meaningful difference in our community.
To make a donation to JFS to support this and other programs please click “donate now”!