Early start a challenge for Backpack Attack

GREENFIELD — An early start to the school year could have some unintended consequences for the county’s neediest students. With just one month until students head back to class, stores are struggling to get back-to-school supplies on the shelves, and it’s complicating both the time-honored tradition of back-to-school shopping and the county’s annual school supply drive.

Backpack Attack is a United Way of Central Indiana initiative that collects and distributes school supplies to needy students in all four county school systems.

The drive is traditionally held about a month before school starts. This year, all four Hancock County School systems head back to class Aug. 1, earlier than in years past, to accommodate the schools’ switch to balanced calendars.

So Backpack Attack had to start early too. Paula Jarrett, UWCI area director for Hancock County, moved the collection kickoff to Tuesday. There is just one problem – school supplies aren’t out yet.

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