Chin Community of Indiana Receives 600 Backpacks

Last week, the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Legacy Grant recipient, the Chin Community of Indiana (CCI), was the recipient of 200 back to school backpacks and supplies for distribution to families in need. The demand was so great, CCI ran out of backpacks before the distribution was scheduled to begin, leaving hundreds of students without school supplies.

Rotarian Jeff Lake, who chairs the Chin Support Committee, worked quickly to connect CCI with local nonprofit, and former Rotary Foundation of Indianapolis grant recipient, Teachers’ Treasures.  CCI accepted 800 backpacks from Teachers’ Treasures, with 400 going directly to CCI families and another 400 being distributed to Perry Township Schools. On Monday, all 400 backpacks were distributed at CCI in less than an hour.

Lake’s quick action and using this Rotary connection allowed him to support CCI in a way that goes far beyond just giving a grant. “The Rotary Club is about building and connecting leaders through service. Jeff was able to leverage the networks we’ve created within Rotary to live out our motto, Service Above Self, so it is especially rewarding to see this success,” says Club President Ramona Adams.

Margaret Sheehan, Executive Director of Teachers’ Treasures was also happy to be part of this effort. “Teachers’ Treasures is thrilled to have been able to help with this urgent need. Our mission is to provide free supplies to teachers and their classrooms so students can access the tools they need to succeed academically,” Sheehan said. “Partnering with the Rotary Club of Indianapolis and the Chin Community of Indiana to get supplies to those students and classrooms is powerful. We are all focused on that student and school’s success.”