BOCA RATON, Florida — For the third year in a row, the Boca Raton Airport Authority, along with airport tenants Signature Flight Support, Reliable Jet Maintenance, Atlantic Aviation, Fairfield Inn and Suites, Boca Aircraft Maintenance, and Privaira, collected school supplies for the Spirit of Giving Network’s Back to School Bash.
“This year, with the help of our airport tenants and the local community, we were able to fill 11 boxes with supplies. We are excited to share that we received more supplies than in the previous two years,” said Boca Raton Airport Authority (BRAA) Executive Director Clara Bennett. “With the current COVID-19 situation, and the uncertainty of what the 2020-2021 school year will look like, it is important to provide students with the tools they need to succeed this year.”
Some of the school supplies collected include paper, notebooks, pencils, pens, crayons, markers, glue sticks, backpacks, socks, and personal hygiene products. These items will be used to prepare backpacks, which will be distributed to students in need.
Spirit of Giving originally planned to host the Back to School Bash, a drive through distribution event for families, on Saturday, Aug. 1, but due to Hurricane Isaias that event was cancelled.
Spirit of Giving Network is a nonprofit that serves children and families in Palm Beach County. It has two signature projects during the year, the Holiday Gift Drive and the Community Back to School Bash.
Lindy Harvey, Spirit of Giving Executive Director, stated that last year they provided more than 4,000 children in Southern Palm Beach County with backpacks full of supplies to begin the school year. Due to COVID-19 they know the need this year will be even greater and are committed to getting all the supplies the children need to start the new school year with some normalcy. Harvey noted they anticipate distributing more than 10,000 backpacks this year.
Spirit of Giving is always looking for donations and volunteers, officials added.