A total of 212 local kids will go back to school next week carrying brand new backpacks, each loaded with an assortment of fresh supplies, thanks to Oxford-Orion FISH and its generous donors.

On Saturday, students, ranging in age from elementary school to high school, showed up with their parents and grandparents at FISH’s food pantry in Thomas to get the tools they need to help them succeed in the classroom.

Sometimes it’s hard to believe – what with all the large homes, expensive vehicles and fancy subdivisions around here – that not every family has the wherewithal to purchase all the items on the average student’s back-to-school checklist.

But the reality is there’s no shortage of people in this area who are struggling on a daily basis to provide essentials, like food, shelter and clothing, for their families.

That’s why every year, Oxford-Orion FISH steps up to ensure these kids don’t slip through the cracks and are forced to go without when the school bell rings.

“It means a lot because when you can’t afford all of it and they go to school without it, it makes them feel different (from the other kids),” said Nicole, an Oxford mother of four. “To give the kids the same opportunities as everybody else, I think it’s a great idea.”

“It’s a blessing. It really is,” said Orion Township resident Heather, who brought her 3-year-old daughter Sophiea to pick out a backpack as she’s entering the Head Start program.

“It’s a big relief because I, obviously, didn’t have the funds for a backpack and other school supplies. She loves her backpack.”

“It’s wonderful,” said Angela, an Oxford resident and mother of three school-age children, plus a baby. “It’s a great program.”

FISH volunteers spent hours on Friday filling the backpacks with rulers, pencils and pens, pairs of scissors, crayons and colored pencils, glue sticks, notebooks, folders, paper, erasers, highlighters and three-ring binders.

They stuffed backpacks for 114 elementary students, 38 middle schoolers and 60 high school students.

All of the backpacks were neatly displayed throughout the FISH pantry. Kids and parents then strolled the aisles on Saturday, choosing exactly what they wanted, just like in a store.

“They love it,” Nicole said. “They love being able to pick it out themselves. They have fun.”

“It makes me cry when the kids and the parents are so happy,” said Oxford resident Lynn Kennis, who’s chaired FISH’s school backpack committee for five years.

“I love it. I will keep doing it as long as I can. I think it’s a great thing. I’ll do anything for kids.”

It’s not easy equipping multiple kids for school when everything is so expensive and money is scarce.

That’s why FISH’s program is very much appreciated.

“It takes a big burden off of our shoulders because one backpack is about $30 and then filling it (with supplies) can cost up to $60,” said Amanda, an Oxford resident and mother of three.

“Think about it, with all three of my kids, that’s about $300.”

Without FISH, Amanda said she would not be able to afford to buy her kids “the coolest backpacks,” as her 9-year-old daughter Madison, a fourth-grader, called them.

“She can come here and pick out whatever she wants,” Amanda said.

“It’s a huge help,” said Nicole, who’s grateful for everything FISH does for low-income residents throughout the year.

“FISH helps a lot with the backpacks, the (free) food, Christmas (presents and dinner). They help with everything.”

Angela is very grateful to FISH for helping to lighten the load a bit because things are very tight in her household these days.

“My husband just got laid off (from) work. We’re getting ready to get booted out of our rental (home). We have no money at all,” she explained. “This helps a lot. It does.”

This is the second year Angela’s family has benefited from FISH’s back-to-school backpack program. Her kids were so excited, they couldn’t wait to get to the pantry.

“They were up and ready to go this morning at 8 o’clock,” Angela said.

It’s definitely a godsend for Oxford resident Michelle, who’s raising her five grandchildren. Not only is this a huge financial help, it also bolsters the kids’ self-confidence.

“When kids go back to school and they don’t have a new backpack or new school supplies, it starts their year off kind of yucky,” Michelle said. But having a pristine backpack brimming with supplies “makes them feel proud” and “want to go to school.”

“They have new things just like their peers,” she said. “Having the things they need starts their year off right.”