Congregations for Kids is the only organization that partners with the Bellevue School District to provide backpack and school supplies for the District's students.  In the first 16 years, Congregations for Kids has filled over 15,337 requests, tailoring backpacks and school supplies for specific students from all grade levels.

Who is helped?

• Bellevue School District students who qualify for the free and reduced price lunch program
• Of those who qualify, students who would benefit the most are identified by district counselors, principals, teachers, school nurses and the Family Connection Center staff
• Numbers, gender, school and grade level of those students are provided to us, never their names

How we help

• Student lists are finalized by the district before the end of the school year, with some additional students added during the summer
  
• Backpacks and school supplies are tailored to each kindergarten through high school student during our Good Start Back to School project in August
  
• Students receive their backpacks/school supplies before school starts
  
• Extra backpacks are also packed for qualifying students entering later in the school year

The need is great and continues to grow

• In October 2011 22.8% of district students, 4114, qualified for free and reduced price lunch programs.  This was 0.5% more than last year
• In 7 district schools, over 40% of their students qualified