1,000 free school backpacks among avalanche of free items

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation

Local charities helped give away nearly 1,000 free backpacks this summer to needy Portland-area students.

Oregonians are very generous.

This comes one week after Portland Public Schools announced that they plan to offer free lunch to all students — regardless of need.

Also, Portland Public Schools offer free preschool — regardless of need.

And yet, Portland school enrollment dropped 9%.   School absenteeism rates are among the worst in the nation.

 

The free student backpacks is a sign of amazing generosity of local Oregonians and businesses.   Here is the list:

– Changing Hearts Foundation gave away 350 free school backpacks this weekend.
– Salvation Army donated 150 backpacks fully packed with school supplies
– Verizon wirleless gave away free backpacks this summer, so did AT&T and Portland Trailblazers (200 free items).
– KGW-TV does their own backpack give-a-way.

In total that is nearly 1,000 free school backpacks for Portland students.

(Top Photo: from KPTV story)