Maple Grove Launches Food, School Supply Drives for National Night Out

Maple Grove Police are teaming up with a local nonprofit to assist students in the upcoming school year.

The “fill the backpack campaign” is part of the city’s National Night Out theme.

The goal is to fill 3,000 backpacks at neighborhood parties on August 6th and donate those to schools in Maple Grove.

Organizers say it could be a game-changer for some families who can’t afford to buy school supplies.

“You can’t learn without those things,” said Elizabeth Johnson from the food bank CROSS which is collecting the backpacks. “Coming to school you don’t have anything, all the other kids do, things like that. That’s a hard way to start school. This just gives kids that opportunity right away to be a part of it. To be excited about school.”

The drive hopes to collect 1000 backpacks.

“They will be no different than everyone else,” said Todd Strege of the Maple Grove Police Department. “They can go to school; they can focus on school. They can focus on homework, the classroom and day to day activities. They don’t have to worry about not having what other kids have.”

“It’s very important,” said Elizabeth Ness, principal at Elm Creek Elementary. “The social ramifications that you come in feeling confident and prepared for the school year and excited. Having school supplies puts you on a more equal playing field.”

If you can’t be part of National Night Out, there are also backpack drop-off sites at Menard’s and Spire Bank in Maple Grove.

To learn more about Maple Grove’s National Night Out, click here.

Maple Grove