Students and parents packed into the African American Chamber to pick up backpacks full of school supplies. Photo by Autumn Francisco
By Autumn Francisco
The Cincinnati Herald
Summer vacation is over and that means it is time for students to stuff their backpacks with school supplies. The day before the Cincinnati Public Schools opened on Wednesday of this week, the African American Chamber of Commerce gave away 200 backpacks filled with notebooks, pencils and pens, paper, crayons, and even a Reds Baseball Calculator.
Anisea Bennett, of Reliable Products and Services, says she helped contribute the school supplies. “I am very excited to be a part of this. When I first heard about the idea, I said, ‘Let me come and donate.’” Other sponsors included the Cincinnati Reds, Speedy Signs & Apparel, MainSource Bank, Smart It, and Kanu Asset Management.
Parents and students from schools across the city came out. Nalia Nadir, mother of a seventh-grader student at Hughes Center High School on Clifton Avenue, said she was so enthusiastic when she noticed other children walking out with backpacks that it drew her attention to come inside. “My daughter just finished elementary school, which is so exciting, and finding out about this made it even better.”
Eric Kearney, president of the African American Chamber, said the Chamber plans to make the school supplies giveaway and annual event.