Keesler Federal donates backpacks and school supplies to Coast kindergarteners

Keesler Federal Credit Union donated backpacks and school supplies for more than 6,500 Coast kindergarteners to help them kick-start the new school year.

The credit union distributed backpacks and supplies to 16 public school districts in Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, Stone, and George counties.

Keesler Federal began the ‘Backpacks for Bright Futures’ program in 2019. Four years later, it has provided backpacks and supplies to more than 26,000 public school kindergarteners.

The distribution was held at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center with each district picking up supplies at an assigned time. Keesler Federal Credit Union Chairman of the Board James Hollingsworth said, “Let’s get started at the very front end with kindergarteners. So, we started with that and what could we do. We thought about the backpacks and getting them school supplies because that helps everybody. It helps the community, it helps the parents, it helps the teachers. What’s great about a child coming to school for their first time and getting this great box of school supplies where everybody gets the same thing.”

Keesler Federal team members helped load thousands of boxes in vehicles. The supplies included a clear backpack as well as scissors, markers, construction paper, glue sticks, and erasers.