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On Wednesday, July 30, United Way Broward’s MISSION UNITED staff and volunteers distributed more than 600 backpacks to military veterans and their families in Broward County. Miami Dolphins alumni Terry Kirby, OJ McDuffie, Lamar Thomas and Shawn Wooden joined the volunteers to distribute the backpacks to show their support.
The donated backpacks were filled by volunteers with an assortment of necessary school supplies, including notebooks, paper, pencils, pens, highlighters, markers, crayons, glue, folders, index cards, scissors, erasers, and more. They were then handed out at United Way Broward’s campus in Fort Lauderdale via drive-through. The brand-new backpacks and school supplies are thanks to the contributions from Castle Group, Response Home Care, Ryan Turner Specialty, DHL, BBX Capital Foundation, and community donors.
“Each year, this initiative helps ease the financial burden for Broward County Veterans and their families by providing essential school supplies for their children,” said James Heaton, Vice President of United Way Broward’s MISSION UNITED. “It’s our privilege to support those who have served by ensuring their families are equipped with the resources they need for a strong start to the school year.”
Sweet treats were provided by Kona Ice. Volunteers from United Way Broward’s NextGen United joined forces with volunteers and staff from the offices of Representative Chip LaMarca and Senator Barbara Sharief to distribute backpacks and support families throughout the day.
MISSION UNITED is a community-based initiative convening and aligning public and private resources in Broward County to support U.S. military service members, Veterans, and their families by helping them acclimate to civilian life. For more information, please visit MissionUnitedBroward.org
