Women with a lot of backpacks

Hill & Markes, a family-owned wholesale distributor based in New York, held a backpack drive to benefit children in need for the upcoming school year. Company employees collaborated with leading manufacturers such as Essendant, Clorox, GOJO, Cascades, and Unfi to collect and fill over 200 backpacks with school supplies, along with an inspirational note.

“The Backpack Drive was a way for Hill & Markes to get actively engaged in the future of many children attending school for the 2019-2020 academic year, by providing the supplies necessary for schools to teach and children to learn,” says Lindsay Countryman, human resource assistant at Hill & Markes. “Our goal was to help eliminate obstacles such as increasing technology costs, budget cuts, and poverty so the success of our teachers and their students continue.”

One hundred backpacks were donated to Greater Amsterdam School District, 50 to Johnstown Elementary, and 50 Liverpool CSD in Syracuse — all in New York.

“Without the generosity of these partnerships, many students would not be able to begin the school year as prepared as their classmates, says Nancy Rad, Amsterdam School District Community Schools coordinator. “Having backpacks and supplies donated to GASD students from Hill and Markes will help 100 children to begin the year ready to learn! A big thank you to Hill & Markes for all that they do for the community”

Hill & Markes ownership and employees fully embraced this fundraiser making it a huge success, sincerely hoping to make a difference in the lives of 200 children starting school this week.

“Your generosity will directly benefit the students, families and staff here at Johnstown Schools,” says Olivia Barnett, kindergarten teacher at Johnstown School. “Thanks for helping us get off to a great start this school year.”