May 18, 2022 St. Mark Youth Enrichment reaching out for community support to ‘Fill the Bag’ for students at 30 schools in Greater Dubuque area.
Local agency again aims to fill school bags and deliver ‘peace of mind’ to parents in need. DUBUQUE COUNTY, Iowa and EAST DUBUQUE, Ill. – With its Dubuque summer program underway, St. Mark Youth Enrichment already has the first day of school on the mind. The organization is preparing for its annual school supply effort to fill school bags with new supplies for students at public and parochial schools in East Dubuque, Dubuque, and Western Dubuque school district areas. Last year, local community members, volunteers, and businesses helped support approximately 3,500 students. This year, St. Mark is again planning for higher numbers of need as local families continue to recover from lost hours, struggling businesses, and inflation during the past few years. “While the world is returning to normal, many of our parents are still struggling,” says Beth McGorry, director of donor relations. “This effort is one of my favorite times of year because it means that our community can help lift a huge weight off of these parents and kids longing for their own sense of normal, that ability to walk in on the first day of school with new school supplies like their peers.” These efforts will impact more than 3600 students in 30 area elementary, middle, and high schools. The organization is partnering with Hartig Drug Stores, and other local sources to get supplies at the best value and to make donations go further. “Because of this support, we’re able to fill the bag of one of these students for as little as $47,” adds McGorry. “Just $47 gets a child all the crayons, pencils, notebooks, and more they need for the day. Parents have enough to worry about today, school supplies shouldn’t be one of them. That’s the peace of mind we’re hoping to deliver.” To donate, volunteer, learn more, or start a fundraiser at your business visit www.stmarkyouthenrichment.org, email bmcgorry@stmarkyouthenrichment.org or call 563-582-6211 ext. 110. If you’re in need of school supplies, please reach out to your school’s counselor to be added to the supply list. St. Mark is committed to sending supplies to area schools and is providing a bag of supplies for each student in local Title 1 Schools. # # # Apples for Students-Fill the Bag is a Community Initiative of St. Mark Youth Enrichment. For over 20 years, St. Mark has worked with local donors to provide supplies to more than 28,000 students on their first day of school. Apples for Students-Fill the Bag is sponsored in part by the Field of Dreams, Claudia Marban & Associates, Theisen’s Home-Farm-Auto, Hartig Drug Stores, John Deere Dubuque Works, Five Flags, City of Dubuque, Brand L Imprints, Dupaco, McCoy Group, and Sedona Staffing. # # # St. Mark Youth Enrichment (formerly St. Mark Community Center) is a non-profit organization that has served the Dubuque Community for more than 30 years. St. Mark provides after school programming in Title 1 elementary schools in the Dubuque Community School District as well as programs in Dyersville and Peosta. To learn more, visit www.stmarkyouthenrichment.org.
