Starting Kids Off Strong This School Year with K-Ready Kids Backpacks

This fall, almost 1,000 children entering kindergarten had a jump start thanks to a community-wide effort aptly named K-Ready Kids. This initiative was the collaborative effort of Granite United Way, community leaders and corporate partners – ensuring access to age-appropriate books, materials to help build fine motor skills, and parent resources and activities.

“Being prepared for school is much more than knowing letters and numbers – children who enter kindergarten ready to learn tend to have more success in school, lower dropout rates, and improved health and career outcomes as adults.” Said Allie Wexler, Assistant Director Early Childhood Initiatives.
 
The backpacks were delivered to 22 different partners including Family Resource Centers, childcare centers, elementary schools, and other early childhood organizations across Strafford and East Rockingham County. These groups distributed to their soon-to-be kindergarteners.

Special thanks to the 27 volunteers from Lonza who packed each of the backpacks.

“I believe that volunteering with the United Way is an invaluable service to the community, especially when it comes to stabilizing the futures for these children. Every child should be able to put their best foot forward, regardless of the circumstances surrounding them. The United Way provides us with an opportunity to give back and strengthen the families and communities around us.” Said Hunter Nichols of Lonza.

Sponsors of the project included Liberty Mutual Insurance, Kennebunk Savings, NextEra Energy, Fedpoint, Core Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, and New Hampshire Children’s Trust.