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School is Cool is a community outreach effort, managed and organized by Colorado State University employees, to provide backpacks and school supplies to low income K-12 students in the Poudre School District. This year, Front Range Community College is partnering with CSU in the project and demonstrates a commitment of both institutions of higher education to our community's K-12 students.
We work in close collaboration with PSD administrations, teachers, and counselors to identify students that qualify for assistance. The schools then discretely give backpacks and supplies to these students at the start of the year, allowing them to start the school year with the tools they need to succeed in the classroom alongside their peers. Nearly 30% of PSD families live in households that meet (or exceed) federal poverty guidelines.
This project is 100% funded by donations from the community and volunteers sort supplies, pack more than 2,500 backpacks and deliver them to the schools.
The cost of backpacks and supplies has increased dramatically. In five years, the total cost of a filled backpack has increased by 24.51%. Spiral notebooks have increased 61%, pens are 43% more, and each empty backpack costs 43% more. New tariffs have increased prices of school supplies even more for 2025.
Although we purchase in bulk with deep discounts through the CSU Bookstore, we struggle to meet the nearly $80,000 needed to provide 2,500 backpacks (our cost is $35/filled backpack).
Packing and delivery of backpacks will take place Aug. 4-7 and Rotary and CSU Rotaract volunteers will help deliver the backpacks to schools on Aug. 7.
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