Fill the Pack – Backpacks for Homeless Teens in Collaboration with
Volunteers of America Utah, Youth Resource Center
Camp Hawk's community service shines through in projects like Fill the Pack through Volunteers for America Utah. “We do two community service projects each year at the Camp Hawk Afterschool program at Jeremy Ranch Elementary School (JRES). This school year, we’re helping Volunteers for America, Utah Youth Resource Center by filling backpacks with essentials for homeless adolescents throughout the state. Modeling compassion to our youngest learners helps create a better community, and this project allows each Camp Hawk Afterschool student to contribute,” Helen Hanahan, Camp Hawk’s Coordinator shared.
Camp Hawk’s K-5 students will assemble backpacks by filling them with winter necessities, hygiene products, and essential food items, like ProBars, for example. Hanahan explained, "We want to provide these teenagers with some comfort and essential supplies during challenging times."
Making a positive impact beyond the classroom, Hanahan detailed how all Camp Hawk families have had the opportunity to donate supplies, "We asked for donations from our students' parents, providing them with a list of items requested by Volunteers of America Utah. Once we gather all the necessary supplies, we’ll be able to fill around 50 backpacks. It's heartwarming to see the enthusiasm and support from parents who believe in the cause."
Coordinators Helen Hanahan, Daniela Moscoso, and Jacob Ascherl will take care of delivering the backpacks to Volunteers of America Utah prior to their February 15th deadline. Volunteers of America Utah will then give the backpacks to homeless adolescents, ages 12-18, who live on the streets in Utah.
Each PCSD Afterschool program chooses a service project to participate in during the school year. For Camp Hawk’s second community service project, they’ll do a Spring Clean Up of the JRES campus after the snow melts.
The goal of Afterschool is to provide a safe, educational and enriching environment for children while providing a quality child care option for parents. Afterschool is available at each PCSD elementary school as well as Ecker Hill Middle School and Treasure Mountain Junior High.
PCSD Afterschool is supported by PCEF donors. PCEF provided the seed funding for the original Afterschool Program at McPolin Elementary in 2008. The program was so successful it spread to all four elementary schools, Ecker Hill and Treasure Mountain. Thanks to the PCSD School Board, the Afterschool Program will expand to include preschool (up to an additional 80 students!) in the 2024-2025 school year. PCSD Afterschool registration opens for the 2024/25 school year on April 22, 2024.
Afterschool K - 9th Grade: Quality Afterschool Programs that Work for Working Parents
