Help4Kids Seeking Clear Backpack Donations for New School Year
Myrtle Beach, SC – Help4Kids, a well-known charitable organization in Myrtle Beach, has launched a fundraiser for children requiring clear backpacks in the upcoming school year. This initiative was spurred following the introduction of a clear backpack policy at Horry County Schools for the academic year 2024-25.
Clear Backpacks: A New Requirement
Starting this school year, all students attending Horry County Schools will need to carry clear backpacks as part of their school gear. This new policy was introduced to enhance the safety of students and school staff. The clear backpacks allow for easy identification of items within, reducing potential threats on school grounds.
“All of a sudden they all have to have clear backpacks, so we have to replace all 3,000 backpacks that they had so far with clear ones,” said Barb Mains, the founder of Help4Kids.
The Backpack Fundraiser
Help4Kids has kick-started a fundraiser to provide clear backpacks to those children who are most in need. Although they have collected a mere 10 clear backpacks so far, the organization is optimistic about garnering support to cover all schools across the county.
“We hope that people will buy, if you just buy one clear backpack for a kid, you’ll be making a difference,” stated Mains, expressing her hope for the campaign.
Parental Concerns
Along with the implementation of this new policy, concerns about the costs of acquiring the appropriate backpack have also emerged among parents. Justin Yarbrough, a parent, expressed his worries, “What happens if they buy a backpack and the school says, ‘that’s not the right one,’ but then they spend $40 on a backpack. How are they gonna spend another $40 on a backpack?”
The Challenges Ahead
The crux of the issue lies in balancing accessibility and affordability as parents scramble to conform with the new regulation. However, the Horry County Schools offered some reassurance, stating they will provide resources if someone is in need. They urged concerned parents to reach out to their local schools for help.
Help4Kids organization is taking active measures to ensure that all students across Horry County Schools can start the school year with the required clear backpacks. The initiative resonates with their mission to provide assistance to underprivileged children and their families, ensuring that they are able to meet basic living requirements and education-related needs.
Sonika Paul for HERE News Network.
Author: STAFF HERE MYRTLE BEACH
The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
