PEORIA, Ill. – Peoria firefighters once again did much better than they expected collecting backpacks, school supplies, and money to buy more, all for local kids.
In the second year of their “Fill the Truck” campaign, nearly 900 kids will get a backpack when they gather at Trewyn Park Thursday night for an event in conjunction with the Peoria Park District.
It’s a fundraiser that Peoria Fire Chief Shawn Sollberger calls “humbling” – especially thinking about last year.
“There were kids who walked away who didn’t get (a backpack),” said Sollberger, at a news conference. “It really touched us, in different spaces. And I think that’s why we set these lofty goals. When people line up, we want them to walk away with something that’s going to significantly impact them in a positive way.”
The number of backpacks is almost triple what was collected last year. $20,000 was raised to buy more supplies – also about triple what was collected last year. In addition, 300 of the older students will receive donated scientific calculators, and 60 students will receive refurbished Chromebooks.
“Knowing that I came from the south end (of Peoria), and I came from a poorer family, I had several teachers that came out of their pockets to be able to buy school supplies for me so that I could succeed,” said Scott Howard, firefighter and member of the Afro-American Firefighters Association in Peoria. “It brings me a great amount of nostalgia to see that there are other people looking out for students that are in need, like I was myself.”
