19 years of backpacking with the folks at Emerson

Coordinating a drive for up to 60 backpacks, each customized for a particular child, is no small feat. For one thing, every backpack needs to be packed with all the supplies required for the grade the child is entering. As any parent knows, that can be quite a list, yet the men and women of Emerson have been managing it for scores of kids every year, for nearly two decades. And for thirteen years, CASA Supervisor Kati Naess has been heading up the drive.

Kati’s first step is to figure out how many backpacks are needed, then get the Volunteers to find out what each kid would like. Requests range from a simple color choice to very specific characters and creatures. Dinosaurs are a favorite, so is Spiderman, and there is almost always a sparkling Barbie. But sometimes, we get a wish that is harder to grant. This year, it was a backpack with pink and white checks. Lo and behold, the dedicated team at Emerson managed to find one! That is what makes partnering with Emerson so special – they go over and above. And then they come back to do it again. Each year they call Kati to say they’re ready for the backpack drive, and she begins pulling together the wish list. Since 2005, more than 700 CASA kids have returned to school well provisioned and in style. We are so grateful to Kati for her outstanding dedication, and to the amazing, generous, and steadfast men and women of Emerson.