Verizon gives back(packs) to students

Locations in Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene celebrate students with giveaway

The connection was pretty loud and clear on Sunday afternoon.

If and when the time comes for students to return to the classroom, Verizon Wireless wants to make sure the needs are no more for area children.

Through a program with the company’s TCC — The Cellular Connection — outlets, Verizon locations in Post Falls and on Hanley Avenue in Coeur d’Alene handed out 400 backpacks to children.

“There’s pencil protectors, pencils, glue and notebooks,” said James Cross, district manager of both the Post Falls and Hanley locations. “It’s just a bunch of supplies to have the children ready to start school this year.”

It is the eighth year of the program, which has expanded to include college scholarships in 2020.

“We’ll give away our millionth backpack nationwide this year,” Cross said. “We’re going to give five winners a $10,000 college scholarship out of 550 locations nationwide.”

A little closer to home, it was also a chance for some area students to get excited about being back in the classroom.

“Because of this whole quarantine thing, I’ve been missing my friends a lot,” said Skyler Stanton, who is going into the seventh grade at Canfield Middle School in Coeur d’Alene. “I’m kind of excited to go back to school. I really enjoy being at school and seeing all of my friends. Knowing that they’re always there for me is really nice to know.”

Something his younger brother, Giovanni, who is going into the fifth grade, echoed as well.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing my teachers and friends again,” Giovanni Stanton said.

As of now, schools in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Lakeland school districts are scheduled to open on Sept. 8. District officials have yet to decide if those classes will be in-person or distance learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For some parents, they’ve already started the back-to-school shopping process.

“Now we’re just waiting to see what the schools want to do as far as returning to the classrooms,” said Michelle Christensen, who was picking up backpacks for her three children. “So it’s just a waiting game right now. I’d still be doing some back-to-school shopping now regardless of what’s going on. This kind of helps, and gets everyone back into the spirit and a routine where something positive will come out of it.”

The event is one of four the company does annually to give back to the community.

“We do a program called Teachers Rock, where we’ll give supplies to a teacher at a school that gets nominated,” Cross said. “We do some rescues and another program called Veterans Rock that we do annually.”

Cross added that with the coronavirus pandemic, it also is a chance to lend a helping hand to those who need it.

“A lot of people are either furloughed, or might not be employed right now, or might be using their funds for other things,” Cross said. “This is one way we can give back to the community, especially for these kids in need.”

Cross also knows the event is appreciated.

“I really enjoy seeing the joy of a kid getting a new backpack and supplies,” Cross said. “Even the parents, they’re truly awesome. I just had a buddy that messaged me that I’m a godsend because he’d just lost his job and wanted to get three backpacks for his children. It’s just a good feeling to be able to help when and where I can.”