Arthur D. Healey School students were delighted to receive their free backpacks laden with school supplies and plenty of surprises last Friday. – Photo by Rahul Raghuvanshi

By Rahul Raghuvanshi

The kindergarteners of Arthur D. Healey School were happy for something more than a Friday. For this Friday, students from grade K1 through K6 were given bags full of crayons, pencils and other school supplies at an event organized by Cradles to Crayons.

The event kicked off with bright-eyed students cheering “Yay!” as Principal Jill Geiser announced to the students the goodies filled backpacks they were going to get. “Such efforts help students see how much the community cares for them,” Geiser said.

The Citizens Bank Gear for Grades program sponsored the backpack distribution event organized by its community partner Cradle to Crayons.

The Senior Vice President of RBS Citizens Financial Group, Rick Musiol, Jr., believes that there is a strong need for corporations to step up and make efforts towards the welfare of students. “We need to make sure that students have what they need,” Musiol said. “Such efforts contribute towards a brighter future of young students.”

The students were distributed 1200 new logo free backpacks and school supplies as a part of Gear for Grades initiative. The initiative aims at distributing 6,600 backpacks in Massachusetts against a $50,000 donation from the Citizens Bank foundation.

Cradle to Crayons has been partnering with Somerville Public Schools since 2010 and has distributed 4,600 backpacks so far. The CEO and founder of Cradles to Crayons Lynn Margherio feels that it’s critical for the self esteem of students to have the basic school supplies to fit in.

“Children need a lot to be confident when going to school,” said Margherio. “Every one can contribute by sharing what their kids have outgrown. We expect to have an overwhelming demand for children who do not have the necessary resources to go to school.”

The bag distribution event was organized for the third time in Somerville since 2011.