Pam is a single mom with four children. She heard about the Greater Tulsa Association of Realtors (GTAR) Backpacks for Kids event from her Family & Children’s Services (F&CS) case worker. But she lives far away and does not have a car. Pam was sad. She really wanted to attend because she knew how special this event would be for her children.
Thank goodness for Pam’s friend Susan, who offered them a ride to the backpack party! The F&CS case worker who took her back home was moved by the enthusiasm of the children who talked nonstop about the party. Meeting Disney characters were cool, and they all got a free haircut. Amazingly, the children did not want to open their backpacks because they wanted to wait until they got home so they could have a fashion show for their mom.
According to the case worker, one of the children kept talking about finding his nametag on the back of the backpack and that is how he knew that it was just for him.
This is one of the many success stories that the GTAR team hear each year, and seeing the excitement of families has fueled their enthusiasm over the last 16 years. Since 2006, GTAR has partnered with F&CS to collect items and present a backpack full of toiletries and a new school outfit for children heading back to school who are also helped by F&CS. GTAR raises funds through an annual golf tournament and private donations. Each backpack saves families about $75. This year’s party theme was Disney and 500 children received backpacks.