Children are back in school this week and are a bit more prepared for their school year thanks to the Women of Steel (WOS) local 9346. Sarah Thompson and Carey Stephenson delivered 61 backpacks full of school supplies last week to different schools and organizations in the Elk Valley. The WOS used the school supply lists from various schools ranging from kindergarten to grade 12 to fill the packs with needed supplies.
Fundraising for school supplies and the backpacks was the result of women brainstorming at WOS meetings over three years ago.
Carey Stephenson is a member of the Women of Steel. “We wanted to fill a need in the community to help kids and schools,” said Stephenson. The loaded backpacks were delivered to the Sparwood food bank, the Fernie Secondary School and schools in Elkford and the Crowsnest Pass. WOS raised $3,745 with 50/50 draws and a barbecue at the Fernie Ford dealership in June. Donations came from local businesses and supplies were also collected from a supply drop box at the Elkview mine.