By Dana Hubanks
On September 18, at Carl Cozier Elementary School in Bellingham, Goodwill held a giveaway of new backpacks for low-income students in the Bellingham School District as part of their Operation School Bell program.
This giveaway was held as a part of the Assistance League of Bellingham’s Resource Fair, a back-to-school event for low-income students, and was funded through a generous initiative by Comcast.
This year Comcast donated $15,000 to purchase over 1,200 backpacks for a back-to-school giveaway for the children of Seattle Goodwill’s students. Backpacks were purchased through Goodwill’s new goods department and were filled with school supplies donated by Complete Office.
“Our students are coming from such different socio-economic circumstances that it’s important to provide as many as possible with school supplies so they’re equipped for an education,” said Diem Ly, community relations manager for Comcast Washington. “This doesn’t solve the complex inequities students face today, but what we aim to do is something even more critical than providing material assistance. We want to show each student there is a community of people behind them, people who care about them, and want them to succeed.”
Speaking with Jim Hale, Center Manager for Seattle Goodwill, he noted that “the families of students have been really impressed” with the generosity of Comcast and the quality of the backpacks themselves. “These are backpacks that will last the whole year.”
Besides the Bellingham event, Comcast also distributed backpacks full of school supplies in Marysville, Burien, Mount Vernon, Bremerton, Silverdale, South Everett and Seattle.
Laura Diaz, the mother of two young teenagers in Bellingham schools, spoke briefly about her gratitude. “It was a big surprise,” she said. “I hadn’t seen anything like that before. It was really nice.”
Both Comcast and Goodwill are engaged in numerous efforts to support the communities they serve, from low-cost internet services for low-income families to job training and education services, respectively.
“While Operation School Bell is directed at the very low-income,” Hale explained, “we serve anyone who is looking for a job. In addition to our classes we offer case management and employment services to our students. And, our classes are all free.”
Hale also stated that Seattle Goodwill has had a working relationship with Comcast for several years. “Comcast offers low-cost internet services for low-income families,” Jim described, referring to Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, the nation’s largest and most comprehensive high-speed Internet adoption program for low-income families.
“Our mission at Goodwill is really to provide people with jobs, so this is a really sweet thing that [Comcast is] doing for the families,” Hale concluded.
Thanks to the generosity of Comcast and the ongoing outreach efforts of Goodwill, many Bellingham students are packed up with the supplies they need for a successful school year.
