16 Pack-a-Backpack

Join NewsCenter 16 Saturday, August 1st for 16 Pack-A-Backpack

NewsCenter 16 is committed to helping area children head back to school with the tools they need to succeed. That's why we're teaming up with McDonald's, Meijer, The United Way of Saint Joseph County, and area agencies for the 16 Pack-A-Backpack school supply drive. Over the past eight years, NewsCenter 16 and our volunteer organizations have distributed more than 28 thousand packages of back to school supplies to deserving children in grades K through 6 throughout the community. To help answer your questions, we've pulled together some information about this year's 16 Pack-A-Backpack.

Where can I drop off a donation for 16 Pack-A-Backpack?
It's easy and convenient! Simply drop off your donation at any of these area McDonald's locations from July 18th through July 31st:

10450 St. Rd. 10, Argos, IN	130 N. Main St., Elkhart, IN
1411 S. Heaton St., Knox, IN	1430 S. Nappanee St., Elkhart, IN
2056 U.S. 31, Plymouth, IN	2808 N. Cassopolis St., Elkhart, IN
801 Roosevelt Road, Walkerton, IN	3429 S. Main St., Elkhart, IN
600 N. U.S. 35, Winamac, IN	21879 St. Rd. 120 , Elkhart, IN
3611 Commerce Dr., Warsaw, IN	1706 Elkhart Rd. , Goshen, IN
12880 SR 23, Granger, IN	2001 Lincolnway East, Box 533, Goshen, IN
1011 W. McKinley Ave., Mishawaka, IN	828 S. Main Street, Middlebury, IN
2771 Lincolnway E., Mishawaka, IN	1010 E. Waterford Street, Wakarusa, IN
5704 Grape Rd. , Mishawaka, IN	717 E. State St., Cassopolis, MI
2001 S. Michigan St. , South Bend, IN	652 Spruce Street, Dowagiac, MI
416 N. Michigan St. , South Bend, IN	68889 M-62, Edwardsburg, MI
4711 S. Miami, South Bend, IN	101 McDonald's Drive, Rochester, IN
5021 Western Ave. , South Bend, IN	2020 Pipestone Rd. , Benton Harbor, MI
3221 Lincolnway W., South Bend, IN	150 E. Ryno Rd., Coloma, MI
3402 Portage Rd., South Bend, IN	18881 La Porte Rd., New Buffalo, MI
1519 N. Ironwood Dr., South Bend, IN	813 Front St., Buchanan, MI
52665 U.S. 31 North, South Bend, IN	613 South Detroit Street, LaGrange, IN
1435 W. Plymouth St. , Bremen, IN	1203 11th St., Niles, MI 49120
1540 E. Market St., Nappanee, IN	315 N. Detroit St. , Warsaw, IN
2010 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, IN	575 St. Joseph Rd., Berrien Springs, MI
2505 North Oak Rd., Plymouth, IN	10280 Red Arrow Hwy., Bridgman, MI
902 South Huntington Street, Syracuse, IN	2820 Niles Ave. , St. Joseph, MI
30830 Old U.S. 20 , Elkhart, IN	4661 Red Arrow Hwy. , Stevensville, MI

You can also drop off your donation live on August 1st during NewsCenter 16 Saturday Morning from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM. We will have live collection sites at these locations:

McDonalds Goshen - 1706 Elkhart/Goshen Rd.
McDonalds Plymouth - 2010 N. Michigan St.
McDonalds St. Joseph, Mi - 2820 Niles Rd.
WNDU-TV Studios - 54516 State Road 933, South Bend

What kind of supplies do you need?
We’ll gladly take just about any unused school supplies appropriate for students grades K though 6, but here’s a rough list to help you with your donation:

Backpacks
Big Erasers
Binders
Color Pencils
Crayons (16 Or 24 Count)
Filler Paper
Folders
Glue Sticks
Markers
Notebooks
Pencil Boxes
Pencils
Pens
Rulers
Scissors

You can also make a monetary donation to the United Way of Saint Joseph County, 3517 E. Jefferson Boulevard, South Bend, Indiana 46615. If you write a check, please be sure to write 16 Pack-A-Backpack in the memo portion of the check.

As a business leader, what can I do to help 16 Pack-A-Backpack?
You play a key role by encouraging your employees to support 16 Pack-A-Backpack. Perhaps you can organize your own company-wide drive and bring the donation to one of our collection locations on Saturday, August 1St. We will also gladly accept monetary donations. The money collected will be used to buy additional school supplies as needed to meet the demand.

Who gets the supplies that are donated locally?
Local children grades K through 6 get the backpacks and supplies. WNDU-TV works with agencies in WNDU-TV's 10-county viewing area to identify low-income children who need the supplies.

If I need school supplies, who do I contact?
To find a participating organization, please contact the United Way helpline at 211. In Berrien County, call Hand-Up Ministry at 269-277-5018.

Cass County families may be able to get school supplies at the Lewis Cass Intermediate School. Distribution is for Cass County residents only and will take place on Saturday, August 22 at 9:00 AM at 61682 Dailey Rd., Cassopolis MI 49031. Supplies will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis.