Gwinnett County mom collecting clear backpacks after district opts out
Clear backpacks to be donated
After the Gwinnett County School District decided against requiring students to carry clear backpacks, one woman decided to collect them for students in need.
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - A Gwinnett County mom is repurposing clear backpacks from a discontinued school safety pilot program by collecting and donating them to children in need through a partnership with the nonprofit Edu-Pack.
RELATED: Gwinnett County Schools decides against clear backpacks for students
What we know:
The Gwinnett County School District tested clear backpacks in dozens of schools earlier this year, providing them to students at no cost. After the district opted not to require them—citing mixed feedback from families and staff—Jenny Daniels sought a way to repurpose the unused bags. She partnered with the nonprofit Edu-Pack, which provides school supplies to children in impoverished areas.
What they're saying:
Daniels said the response has been overwhelming.
"I started collecting them as soon as the pilot stopped," Daniels said.
"Just this past week it blew up, and I’m almost at 500 bookbags," she added.
Daniels said Edu-Pack told her that number of backpacks can supply an entire school.
What you can do:
Daniels is collecting backpacks at the Stone Mountain Chick-fil-A through next week. A donation box is located inside the restaurant.