Dayton backpack drive being held

Dayton Urgent Care staff is conducting a backpack and school supply drive for children in the Dayton community, who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford these items as they return to school. The drive will continue through mid-September.

“The girls (in the office) and I started looking at ways we could give back to the community and started last fall with a warm clothing drive,” said coordinator Della Estep. “Then we saw there was a need for this and decided to do it.”

The goal is to collect 100 backpacks and enough cash to purchase supply packets to fill them, Estep said. They are also accepting donations of binders, folders and highlighter pens.

“We live and work here and I have children in the schools and we know first-hand the kind of need there is,” Estep said, adding that while some of the corporate-sponsored drives send items outside the community, everything collected at Urgent Care will stay in Dayton for local kids of all ages.

“This is our first year doing this and it grew out of thinking of other ways we could give back.”

Gently used backpacks are also being accepted, and it’s requested they be washed prior to donating.

Once this drive is complete, stay tuned for more information about the warm clothing drive, and as folks are doing fall cleaning, consider setting aside hats, gloves, boots and coats that are no longer needed.

“We will begin that collection probably in October/November and would also like to set up an Angel Tree before the holidays,” she said. “Of course those gifts will stay in the community.”

They’re also looking for someone who would be willing to be Santa for a day, to distribute those gifts.

“There are a lot of families out there who need help and working here, we see it every day,” Estep said. “One little boy came to get a backpack. His mom had just been laid off and she has never needed help before and now she does and thankfully we are able to do so.

“The smile on that little guy’s face was priceless, and Mom was in tears.”

To donate, simply take items/and or cash to Dayton Urgent Care, 901 Medical Center Dr., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call the office at (775) 445-7210 or Estep at (775) 315-6587.