The entire Morley Elementary School community made its annual trek to and from West Hartford Town Hall Tuesday, delivering backpacks that will be given to students in need before the next school year.

By Ronni Newton

Community service has been part of the fabric of West Hartford’s Morley Elementary for many years, and Tuesday morning the spirit of giving back was evident once more as the student body of 280 delivered 282 backpacks to Town Hall.

Accompanied by school administrators, teachers, and many parents – and escorted by the West Hartford Police and Fire departments – the Morley community was all smiles as they made the 1.2 mile (each way) trek down Farmington Avenue, through Blue Back Square, to the Town Hall auditorium where donated backpacks were stacked on tables to be sorted by volunteers.

Second grade teacher Dawn O’Connor, who has coordinated the Backpack Brigade – now in its seventh year – as well as the 21-year-old Red Wagon Food Drive effort, said that a smaller number of backpacks were collected this year because the decision was made to purchase a greater number of large-size backpacks for high school students.

O’Connor said that she purchases most of the backpacks, and about $2,900 was donated to the effort this year, a similar figure to years past. Some of the backpacks are donated as well.

This year West Hartford Public Schools get out much earlier than usual, and Friday, June 10 is the last day of school for elementary students. “It was a little bit more of a rush to get this going, but it’s always a big rush at the end – and it’s always a big success,” O’Connor said.

“Every time we do something like this I know why I’m at Morley School,” said O’Connor. “It’s such a special place, a sense of community, great children who will carry this message well beyond their five or six years at Morley School.”

“It’s a lot of fun because we’re helping out other students,” Morley Student Council President Nathan Moyer said. As president, the fifth grader was very involved in helping the student council raise $486 to purchase backpacks. “We had spirit days, PJ days, sports days,” Nathan said, and the students were asked to contribute coins.

“I think it’s great that year after year we do this, but what I really love is how it makes our community come together,” Morley Principal Ryan Cleary said. It was a hot morning to walk to Town Hall, but the kids were smiling the whole way, many of them holding hands. He said this is one of his favorite days to be principal.

“We don’t just do community service, but we do it in a joyful way. It’s the spirit that goes along with the action,” said Cleary. It’s not just about school supplies, he said.

After the backpacks had all been stacked in the Town Hall Auditorium, the brigade took a rest for a brief presentation. West Hartford Food Pantry Coordinator Nancy Stockman thanked the Morley community for the donation, and also remarked on the smiles on everyone’s faces as they made the delivery.

“Every backpack represents another student you’re helping. In two months there will be students walking out of here with a backpack and a smile because of your generosity,” Stockman said.

Mayor Shari Cantor’s four sons all attended Morley, and she participated in the Red Wagon Food Drive for the 14 years she was a Morley parent. “It’s a special place. You learn about community,” Cantor said as she thanked the students.

“Other students will be ready to go to school on the first day knowing that they have everything they need,” Cantor said. “Keep on giving back – remember how this feels,” she said, adding the words of the Lorax written by Dr. Seuss: “You make things better.”

Cleary thanked the Morley community for their efforts, as well as O’Connor for being a great leader. He said he knows that it’s not always easy, but that it’s clear what a difference the Backpack Brigade makes. “The thing they won’t forget is coming here to Town Hall and getting a new backpack meant for them,” said Cleary.

“This is amazing, and the variety [of backpacks] is so great, too,” Community Partnerships Manager Suzanne Oslander said. She said that Human Services distributed approximately 650 backpacks last year, and Morley’s donation makes a big difference.

School supplies have also been collected and distributed in the past, but this year the decision was made to give gift cards with the backpacks so that families can purchase the supplies that students need for their particular classes.

Oslander said that additional donations from individuals and organizations in the community, as well as money from the Town That Cares Fund, will be used to purchase more backpacks as well as gift cards that will be distributed in August. Families are still registering with Human Services, so she doesn’t yet know the number that will be needed.

The students and their families will come to Town Hall in August to pick up their backpacks. “We turn this into a store, and the kids pick their backpacks. We don’t just give them, we make sure they fit,” she said. The students are really excited. “It’s so great to see that 5-year-old who has never been to school yet just beaming,” she said.

Families that are in need of donated backpacks and school supplies should register with Human Services by calling Oslander at 860-561-7580 or emailing her at [email protected].

Additional backpacks as well as financial donations to the Town That Cares Fund are also needed, and information about how to donate can be found on the Town of West Hartford website.

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