Gear for Grades Draws Enough Support to Fill 3,000 Backpacks

Eighty volunteers from Citizens Bank and Child & Family Services of New Hampshire joined forces Aug. 15 to fill 3,000 backpacks with school supplies including notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, rulers and markers donated by community members.  

Thanks to the 11th annual Gear for Grades drive, held July 22 through August 9, Citizens Bank collected donations of new school supplies at all its New Hampshire branches. This year, Citizens Bank is working in partnership with Child and Family Services of NH, the New Hampshire Union Leader and 95.7 WZID. 

According to a National Retail Federation survey, the average American family spent $688.62 in 2012 on back-to-school expenses. For low-income, at-risk or homeless families, the cost of even basic school supplies can be a burden.

“With the rising cost of school supplies, the Gear for Grades program helps to ease the financial strain parents face this time of year as they prepare to send their children back to school,” said Joe Carelli, President, Citizens Bank and RBS Citizens, New Hampshire. “We are proud to play a small role in contributing to the academic success of so many local children who return to the classroom ready to learn. We thank our customers and the general public who continue to support this program by donating new school supplies that make a big difference to the children who receive them. I also want to thank Child and Family Services, WZID and the Union Leader for helping make this program a great success.”

The Gear for Grades program is a part of Citizens Helping Citizens Strengthen Communities, the bank’s program for contributing to the economic vitality of communities. Citizens Bank colleagues and community members volunteered to help fill the supplies in logo-free backpacks donated by Citizens Bank Foundation to help ensure children have a positive experience as they return to the classroom. The backpacks will be distributed to children statewide through Child and Family Services beginning August 22.