More than 200 backpacks filled with clothes, personal hygiene products, and school supplies were handed out to area children Monday, August 31, at the Hope Chest on Ferry Lane in St. Ignace. The goal of the program is to help families in need better prepare their children for the coming school year promote low-income housing, healthcare, and other services available in Mackinac County.

Project Backpack and Project Connect were combined this year to make it easier for families to get the available information and supplies in one place. On distribution day, people could also have their blood-pressure and bloodsugar checked, and children had the opportunity to receive a free haircut from area hairdressers.

"We had a great response to it last year, so we did it again," said organizer Mary Swiderski of Michigan State University Extension. "This whole event is for Mackinac County people."

Most of the backpacks handed out Monday were sponsored by anonymous area agencies, businesses, and individuals. They were filled with shoes, clothes, school supplies, soaps, and shampoo. Families without a sponsor could receive backpacks for their children with fewer items through Project Backpack.

One-hundred-thirty-six backpacks were provided by sponsors, and about 80 additional backpacks were given away to kindergarten through eighth grade students enrolled in St. Ignace Area and Gros Cap schools, up from 120 backpacks given away last year. Ms. Swiderski attributes the increase to an increased need created by the sluggish economy.

"We had more free and reduced kids on the mailing list from the school, probably because of the economy and people losing their jobs," she said. "The school helped us mail out letters to families to tell them about the project, and we got an overwhelming response."

Pat Keller of Community Health Access Coalition was at the event providing information about quality healthcare for uninsured residents in Luce, Mackinac, and Chippewa counties. The program helps provide quality care to those between the ages of 19 and 64 who are not covered by federal programs like Medicare and State Children's Health Insurance Program.

"Within that age range, we have so many people [without care]," she said. "The last formal count was 4,000 that were eligible, just within our three-county area. Our need keeps rising because the community need keeps rising. We're out here trying to let people know it's available. It's free, quality healthcare... from excellent providers."

Other agencies, organizations, and businesses providing information and services at the Hope Chest Monday included, MSU Extension, Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Mackinac County, Housing First, St. Ignace Area Hope, Mark Mercer Dentistry, Hiawatha Behavioral Health, Hope Chest, Veteran Services, Legacy House, Strong Families Safe Children, Diane Peppler Resource Center, Community Health Access Coalition, Michigan Works, Work First, Mackinac County Department of Human Services, LMAS Health Department, Glen Memorial Baptist Church Youth Ministries, Safe Haven Emergency Shelter, St. Ignace Area Girl Scouts, Community Action Agency, CLM Rental Assistance, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Lambert Center, Mackinac Straits Hospital, and Great Lakes Recovery Center.

The program was funded through the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness with a $750 grant.

"Almost every human service agency is here to help people with housing rentals, health, and just any kind of assistance," Ms. Swiderski said. "You name it, they're here."