FELLSMERE — Backpacks, pencils, paper, erasers, markers, pens, crayons – all essentials for students returning to the classroom in August – and all items that Operation Hope in Fellsmere is need of to help send those students back to school for the next school year.
Weeks before volunteers will begin stuffing backpacks with back-to-school-supplies, Operation Hope’s founder, Jesse Zermeno, is knocking on doors and making phone calls, hoping to drum up enough donations to take care of 800 to 1,000 children.
“Right now, we’ve just begun,” Zermeno said of collecting backpacks and supplies.
The 13th annual Backpack Giveaway is scheduled for Saturday Aug. 11 at 1 p.m. Zermeno has until then to collect all the supplies he needs to meet his goal.
And that means taking donations from those in the community.
“Of course, yes,” he said of needing school supplies and backpacks.
Last year, with a mere two days before the event, Operation Hope had just 600 backpacks – 200 short of his goal. A last-minute push sent donations soaring and more than 900 children went back to school with new bags and supplies.
One such child was Cornelius Robinson, who was going into the second grade at Liberty Magnet Elementary School. His grandmother, Vivian Lemelle, of Fellsmere, said her grandson might not have otherwise had a backpack or the necessary supplies if not for Operation Hope’s event.
She explained that money was tight after having to buy Cornelius new clothes due to a recent growth spurt.
“It means a great deal,” the grandmother said of Operation Hope’s Backpack Giveaway.
Along with the giveaway, there are plans for live music and games meant to keep everyone entertained while waiting their turn to pick out their backpack.
Though the giveaway won’t start until 1 p.m., Zermeno expects families to start arriving a few hours early to ensure a place in line.
Like last year, Zermeno hopes to have a few donation drop-off sites around Indian River County, helping to facilitate more donations. Those sites have not yet been determined, but Zermeno said he would release the list as soon as it’s been finalized.
Until then, anyone willing to donate to the Operation Hope Backpack Giveaway can drop off their items at Operation Hope, located at 12285 County Road 512, Fellsmere, or call (772) 571-0003.
Vero Beach’s Chick-fil-A restaurant, located at the Indian River Mall, has gotten involved in the backpack event, too.
The Chick-fil-A at Indian River Mall will give a free Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich to guests who donate school supplies starting Monday, July 30 through Friday, Aug. 10. The donated school supplies will be distributed to Operation Hope in Fellsmere.
Requested items include:
- packs of 12 No. 2 pencils
- wide or college rules paper
- 3-ring binders
- composition notebooks
- packs of dry-erase markers
- 8 1/2″ x 11″ spiral notebooks
- backpacks
- packs of colored pencils or crayons
“This event allows us to support Operation Hope and all that they do for our county,” said Chick-fil-A operator Gary Robinson.
Chick-fil-A team members, along with Robinson, will be on hand that Saturday handing out the backpacks.
Those also interested in volunteering that day are encouraged to call Operation Hope at (772) 571-0003.
