Marion Lovell has teamed up with the ‘Backpack Project’ and is hoping to collect used or unwanted spare backpacks and school bags to send to needy children.
The Backpack Project works in conjunction with Mary Meals, who aim to make sure that every child in the world gets one nutritious meal every day.
Marion said: “In these troubled times, when I heard about such a worth while project to help incredibly poor children in Africa I felt it is something that perhaps other people in Moffat might like to know about, and hopefully join in.”
The project aims to send children backpacks filled with everyday school essentials such as exercise books, pencil cases, uniforms and shoes.
Items such as soap, toothbrushes and paste, towels and metal spoons are also encouraged to be donated.
Spurring people on to donate, Marion added: “There is no need to get everything new. “Provided they are clean and in good condition out-grown clothes and items from a charity shop are fine.”
She added: “I’d love it if others joined in and donated. A few backpacks have already been handed in; but l’m excited to see how many backpacks can be made up in Moffat by the end of September.”
Offering tips on how best to put a bag together, Marion said: “First decide on an age and whether it’s foraboy or girl, and when everything has been neatly packed inside firmly fix a label to the outside stating the age and sex that the contents would suit.”
Marion advises that the bags are likely to go to Liberia or Malawi and the children are aged from four to 12-years-old.
She added: “To ensure no problems occur at customs remember, no extra little gift is permitted.
“Your backpacks will join others so that every child in a particular class receives one.”
Marion is also encouraging families with children going back to school to dig out last year’s school supplies, which may be going unused, and donate them to the cause.
■ Anyone wishing to donate to the Backpack Project can contact Marion by e-mail at [email protected]
