Public Administration and Policy highlights a local nonprofit every month as a way to engage with and aid the community while connecting our students, faculty, and staff to local charities that are doing good things in Athens. This month PADP is working with The Backpack Project Inc. This is a really great organization, especially since all chapters are completely student run. We want to thank MPA student, Emily Warshal, for bringing this wonderful charity to our attention. Emily is the incoming executive director for The Backpack Project Inc.

The Backpack Project, Inc. is a Georgia-based charitable organization that packs backpacks filled with food, clothes, and toiletry items and hand-delivers them to those experiencing homelessness. Every backpack is procured for ~$20 and contains approximately 40 high-quality items, each of which is research-validated as useful to clients. Since 2015, they have delivered over 10,000 backpacks to clients across the southeast. They hand-deliver every backpack, establishing a personal connection with those they meet along the way. The Backpack Project, Inc., a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit, proudly serving the Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Gainesville, and Savannah communities. In addition, they support chapter organizations in Athens, GA; Atlanta, GA; Columbia, SC; and Durham, NC.

PADP is collecting items to create the backpacks they give out. Please consider dropping off an item in our office (204 Baldwin Hall) for this great cause. Some of the much needed items include:

Backpacks (new or slightly used)
Floss
Deodorant
Toilet Paper
Petroleum Jelly (travel sized)
Packs of peanut butter crackers
Slim Jims
1 gallon zip lock bags

You can also visit their website and check out the Athens chapter. While you are there, you can check out how you can get involved: make a monetary donation, join their team, and or join the Athens chapter.

We hope you take a moment to check them out and find a way to help support this wonderful organization.