ALAMOSA — La Puente’s Outreach Services is now holding its eighth annual backpack drive to gather school supplies for SLV children in need and requests the public’s help.

A simple monetary donation of $5 can fill a backpack with the essential items children need to be successful. The drive will also be collecting donations of backpacks, pencils, blue and black pens, lined paper, rulers, folders, notebooks, crayons, 3-ring binders, and colored pencils.

Drop off school supplies at the Outreach Services Office located at 929 State Ave. in Alamosa on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or at the administration office, 911 State St. in Alamosa, from Monday through Friday.

Please help with the goal of 1,000 backpacks so that children can attend school with the tools they need to be successful students.

La Puente’s Outreach Services will personally distribute backpacks, filled with schools supplies, in different cities in each county throughout the Valley. Distribution of backpacks will take place the week of August 18th. Dates, places, and times will be announced one week prior to distribution.

Call Mae Mercadante at 719-587-3781 ext. 213.