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More than 120 students receive backpacks from Catholic Charities to start the school year

Elizabeth A. Elliott | Catholic Herald Staff Writer

Backpacks filled with school supplies are ready to be shared with more than 120 students at Christ House in Alexandria Aug. 25. ELIZABETH A. ELLIOTT | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Sherri Longhill, Catholic Charities emergency assistance program director, helps a student put on her new backpack at Christ House in Alexandria Aug. 25. ELIZABETH A. ELLIOTT | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Families gather for prayer at Christ House in Alexandria before receiving backpacks from Catholic Charities Aug. 25. ELIZABETH A. ELLIOTT | CATHOLIC CHARITIES

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Stores may advertise school supplies for pennies, but by the time
a family makes all the required purchases, it can add up. For some, the cost is
too much.

Arlington diocesan Catholic Charities provided 122 students —
from preschool to high school — with backpacks filled with school supplies at
Christ House in Alexandria Aug. 25.

In its second year, the school supply giveaway was made possible
by donations to Christ House.

Ruth Guillen, emergency assistance senior case coordinator for Catholic Charities,
came up with the idea last year after seeing many families with slim resources
and school-aged children.

Guillen described the day’s event to the families before things
began. It included a prayer service and snacks for the children and adults.  The names of families would be called
individually to receive the backpacks. Once the children got their bags, they
had their photo taken in front of a board that said “Back to School.”

“Volunteers put a lot of love in these backpacks,” said Guillen.

Bernadette Kamara’s three grandchildren received backpacks. The Alexandria
family has received help from Catholic Charities for more than four years. Kamara
is grateful.

“I thank God for the opportunity,” she said. “It is a blessing to
be able to know (the staff and volunteers)and I pray that God
will continue to bless them.”

Debbie Vitale volunteered to sort the school supplies into grade-specific
backpacks.

“I know how important education is as a former teacher, and I know
how expensive school supplies are for a lot of families,” she said. “I think by
helping with backpacks and school supplies you can take stress off their minds
as they are getting ready for school. They can really have a happy start to the
school year.”

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