Members of the Somerville Kiwanis Club organized the drive for their annual school supplies donation program.

On August 19, the final step in our annual school supplies/backpack drive before final delivery was completed at the Somerville headquarters of PUMA North America. A great group of Kiwanis members, assisted by some friends and an amazing group of PUMA employee volunteers, was able to stuff all 200 high-quality backpacks with needed school supplies in less than an hour. After a quick group photo, the boxed backpacks were loaded onto member vehicles for delivery to Somerville High School and Prospect Hill Academy.

The school supplies were donated on two Saturdays last month when Kiwanis members set up a donation site in front of Staples at Assembly Row. Dozens of citizens purchased and donated supplies, and many even made cash donations to the program.

Program chairperson, Haley Adams, thanked PUMA North America and their joint venture partner for this program, United Legwear, for their donation of 200 high-quality backpacks and their support of this program for the past four years. Also, special thanks to Staples at Assembly Row for donating five cartons of loose-leaf binders, as well as their many customers who donated supplies, including one very special customer who shopped for $150 worth of supplies. After the inventory, the remaining needed supplies were purchased with club funds.

President Tom Austin and co-President Dawn Austin thanked all of the members and volunteers who have helped make these donated backpacks and supplies available to those students who need them the most. Those students will be selected by school officials.

To learn more about the Kiwanis Club of Somerville or to become a member, visit our website www.somervillekiwanis.org.

— Somerville Kiwanis Club