Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties provides 7,000 backpacks and school supplies to children in need

Nathan Velez, 16, received one of the 7,000 backpacks filled with school supplies that were recently provided for economically disadvantaged children by the Jewish Federation of Volusia & Flagler Counties. 

The Jewish Federation delivered the high-quality backpacks and school supplies in early August to schools across Volusia and Flagler counties. Students returned to school in Volusia County on Aug. 16. In Flagler, schools opened Tuesday, Aug. 10. 

"I want to thank all the donors who contributed to the backpack program for this year. We successfully received enough money to cover all the expenses of over 7,000 backpacks for children in need in Volusia and Flagler counties," said Gloria Max, executive director of the Jewish Federation, who started the program in 1996. "A hundred percent of your donation went to help the deserving children of this community, regardless of race or religion." 

Nathan stopped by the Jewish Federation recently to pick up a backpack and school supplies for his 9-year-old sister, Holly, and said he had already received his backpack. The two Daytona Beach children attend Daytona Beach Christian Academy.  

Given the pandemic, Max worried that she might not be able to raise enough money this year to meet all the requests from area schools. "But in fact, we surpassed our goal," she said. The program has provided more than 120,000 backpacks to area schoolchildren in the past 26 years. 

"This year, we also gave teachers an extra bonus. We gave them supplies that they can use themselves," she added.