LANSING – State Representatives Joan Bauer (D-Lansing), Barb Byrum (D-Onondaga), Mark Meadows (D-East Lansing) and State Senator Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing) today presented nearly 90 bookbags for Lansing-area students to the Black Child and Family Institute (BCFI). These and other donated bookbags will be provided to area children as the school year begins.
"Every child deserves the tools that will allow them to succeed in school," Bauer said. "As a former teacher, I've seen firsthand what can happen when students don't have the proper supplies they need. Our kids are the workers and leaders of tomorrow, and they deserve the best possible education we can give them. The backpack project shows our kids – who are the real winners in this effort – that the community cares about them and their education."
The Ingham County legislators collected 87 bookbags for the bookbag drive, which was part of a friendly competition between the lawmakers and the Lansing City Council, which collected 81. Bauer also secured a number of bookbags from area residents.
"Times are tough for all of us, but I am amazed at the generosity that residents across Ingham County have shown," Byrum said. "I am proud to be part of this program, which is doing a great thing for our community."
The BCFI is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing assistance to children and families in the Greater Lansing area.
"Michigan needs a highly skilled workforce to bring the jobs of the 21st century economy here, and a strong K-12 education is critical to that effort," Meadows said. "Programs like the BCFI's bookbag drive help more students succeed in school, and lay the foundation for their future success."