Help4Kids Seeking Clear Backpack Donations for New School Year

Myrtle Beach, SC – Help4Kids, a well-known charitable organization in Myrtle Beach, has launched a fundraiser for children requiring clear backpacks in the upcoming school year. This initiative was spurred following the introduction of a clear backpack policy at Horry County Schools for the academic year 2024-25.

Clear Backpacks: A New Requirement

Starting this school year, all students attending Horry County Schools will need to carry clear backpacks as part of their school gear. This new policy was introduced to enhance the safety of students and school staff. The clear backpacks allow for easy identification of items within, reducing potential threats on school grounds.

“All of a sudden they all have to have clear backpacks, so we have to replace all 3,000 backpacks that they had so far with clear ones,” said Barb Mains, the founder of Help4Kids.

The Backpack Fundraiser

Help4Kids has kick-started a fundraiser to provide clear backpacks to those children who are most in need. Although they have collected a mere 10 clear backpacks so far, the organization is optimistic about garnering support to cover all schools across the county.

“We hope that people will buy, if you just buy one clear backpack for a kid, you’ll be making a difference,” stated Mains, expressing her hope for the campaign.

Parental Concerns

Along with the implementation of this new policy, concerns about the costs of acquiring the appropriate backpack have also emerged among parents. Justin Yarbrough, a parent, expressed his worries, “What happens if they buy a backpack and the school says, ‘that’s not the right one,’ but then they spend $40 on a backpack. How are they gonna spend another $40 on a backpack?”

The Challenges Ahead

The crux of the issue lies in balancing accessibility and affordability as parents scramble to conform with the new regulation. However, the Horry County Schools offered some reassurance, stating they will provide resources if someone is in need. They urged concerned parents to reach out to their local schools for help.

Help4Kids organization is taking active measures to ensure that all students across Horry County Schools can start the school year with the required clear backpacks. The initiative resonates with their mission to provide assistance to underprivileged children and their families, ensuring that they are able to meet basic living requirements and education-related needs.

Sonika Paul for HERE News Network.