Carson City Salvation Army launches annual backpack and school supply drive

The Salvation Army is collecting backpacks and school supplies for disadvantaged children through August 17. Children from Carson City, Douglas County and Lyon County will receive backpacks and school supplies as needed. The Salvation Army will have a distribution of the back packs and a large portion of the back packs collected will be given directly to the School Districts for distribution to children in transition.

The Salvation Army has been getting calls from families in need for several weeks asking for help. Many of the parents are worried that their kids won’t have what they need for school. “Starting school off with the proper gear is important for a child’s wellbeing.

I can remember when I was a kid and feeling out of place when all the other kids had new back packs and supplies and the teacher would have to supplement what I had. It made me feel like the other kids were better than me and, I believe, affected my school performance,” said Captain Mark Cyr, officer in charge of the local Salvation Army, when explaining the need for the drive.

“We are collecting boxes of cereal this year to help supplement the back packs as an addition to help the kids get a good breakfast their first week of school,” he added.

This is the Army’s third year doing an Apple Tree backpack and school supply drive. Similar to the Salvation Army’s Christmas Angel Tree program the program has “Apples” that have a child’s wishes on it to help donors shop. These Apple Trees can be found at any of the local businesses listed below.

School Supply suggestions: back packs, pencils, pens, scissors, pencil sharpeners, pencil pouches, paper, note books, composite books, glues sticks, crayons/markers, highlighters, etc. and a box of healthy cereal.

Back packs and supplies can be dropped off at The Salvation Army, 661 Colorado St. Carson City, 89701 before August 17. Or one of the below locations:

Apple Tree Locations:
Carson City Locations
Aaron’s Furniture: 3355 S. Carson St, Carson City, NV. 89701
Advanced Home Health: 343 Fairview Drive Suite 106, Carson City, NV 89701
American Family Insurance: 808 College Parkway Suite 106, Carson City, NV. 89706
Anytime Fitness: 2629 N. Carson St, Carson City, NV. 89706
Anytime Fitness: 4530 S. Carson St, Carson City, NV 89701
Carson Aquatic Center 841 N Roop St, Carson City, NV 89701
Carson City Library 900 N. Roop St, Carson City, NV 89701
Carson City Parks and Recreation 851 E William St, Carson City, NV 89701
Calvary Chapel: 1635 Clearview Drive, Carson City, NV. 89701
Capital Ford: 3660 S. Carson St, Carson City, NV. 89701
Carson Lanes: 3550 S. Carson St, Carson City, NV. 89701
Ed’s Dog House: 3300 Airport Rd, Carson City, NV. 89706
Edward Jones: 604 W. Washington St. Suite F, Carson City, NV. 89703
Gaming Control Board: 1919 College Parkway, Carson City, NV. 89706
Grandma Hatties: 2811 S. Carson St, Carson City, NV. 89701
Hyundai: 3550 S. Carson St, Carson City, NV. 89701
JC Penney: 3939 S. Carson St, Carson City, NV. 89701
Johnny Rockets: 3550 S. Carson St, Carson City, NV. 89701
Les Schwab: 3219 N. Carson St, Carson City, NV. 89706
Les Schwab: 3020 S. Carson St, Carson City, NV. 89701
Sierra Adrenaline: 4630 E. Williams St, Carson City, NV. 89701
Sportsman’s Warehouse: 1443 S. Carson St, Carson City, NV. 89701
Tumbleweeds Gymnastics: 3633 Research Way, Carson City, NV. 89706

Douglas County Locations
A La Carte Salon: 1456 U.S. Hwy 395 N # A, Gardnerville, NV 89410 (After August 1)
Carson Valley Library: 1625 Library Ln. Minden, NV 89423
Carson Valley Swim Center: 1600 Hwy 88, Minden, NV 89423
Family Support Council 1255 Waterloo Lane # A, Gardnerville, NV 89410
Flight Restaurant: 2244 Meridian Blvd, Minden, NV 89423
Frontier Communications 1520 Church St, Gardnerville, NV 89423
Les Schwab: 1151 US HWY 395 N, Gardnerville, NV 89410
Rite Aid: 1329 Us Hwy.395 North,#1, Gardnerville, NV 89410
Smith’s: 1341 U.S. Hwy 395 N, Gardnerville, NV 89410
Tumbleweeds Gymnastics: 2231 Meridian Blvd #2, Minden, NV 89423

If you would like to help with an Apple Tree Back Pack Drive at your business, restaurant or church or would like to volunteer to help with the Back Pack Drive, please contact Christie Contreras at (775) 887-9120 ext 101.

More Locations will be added to The Salvation Army’s facebook page https://www.facebook.com/carsoncitysalarmy as they become available.

The Salvation Army serving Carson City, Douglas County and the surrounding communities. serves more than 21,000 people each year helping with school supplies, emergency food, emergency lodging, utilities, holiday assistance, Summer Day Camp, Before School Care, and Summer Camp. In 2015 more than 250 back packs went to children need in Douglas County and over 350 went to children in need in Carson City and Lyon counties.