During the summer of 2011, Kim Castellano, of Power of One Outreach Ministries and Mrs. Michelle Dehaven, a Clifton teacher walked the Relay for Life of Clifton track together. They shared their passion for the children in Clifton. Castellano shared her dream to reach underprivileged children with school supplies. Dehaven, a teacher at School# 12 in Clifton mentioned the programs that were available for the children and advised Castellano to contact Mrs. Talley who over sees these programs.
Castellano was contacted by Mrs. Talley that following Monday. Talley gratefully accepted the offer to receive as many backpacks and school supplies, Castellano could collect. Castellano then turned to the support of her Church, North Jersey Vineyard located in Teterboro, and family and friends. In August of 2011, Castellano collected and delivered 75 backpacks filled with school supplies to Mrs. Talley at School #12. As of today, over 750 backpacks have been collected through-out the City of Clifton and are given out by teachers, principals, counselors and school faculty since its beginning.
A school pantry has also been added to the outreach. During the school year, food drives are sponsored by local businesses. Over 20 families receive 3 days worth of kid friendly groceries. These groceries help feed our students who may be food insecure during the school breaks. The children and families are grateful for the groceries and students return to school ready to learn.
July and August kicks off the Back2School Outreach for the 2016-2017 school year. We need your support this summer by donating school supplies for the children in Clifton. The days of children coming prepared on their first day of school are a thing of the past. Your continued help is making a difference in a child’s education.
A supply list with instructions is available online at www.powerofoneccom.org on the Compassion page
Deadline to drop off items is August 26th. Or visit the many drop off locations through out Clifton and pick up a flyer. Sponsors this year include, CSBK (Clifton Savings Bank), Walgreen’s, Lunar E-Clips, Clifton Chiros, Main Public Library, Clifton Firehouses. Civic groups include St Philips’ Columbiettes Auxillary, Vision Pioneers, Red Hat Angels, Jr. Girl Scout Troop 95322 and the many individual volunteers.
If your business/organization would like to participate in this outreach project with your customers/members please contact Kim Castellano at 201-328-2326, or email Kelly Keil, Project Coordinator at Kelly@powerofoneccom.org for more information.
Our goal this year is 300 backpacks filled with school supplies for K-5 students and 100 for Middle school students.
The Back2School Outreach mission is to provide underprivileged children with a free quality backpack filled with school supplies for her/his new school year. We work closely with principals and teachers of our schools and have become a bridge between the teacher and student by providing the student the supplies they need to succeed during the year.
Your donations are 100% tax deductible!