New Haven Independent

Second-grader Cameron Foskey is taking a load off after modeling his pack filled with school supplies. He was among the kids who showed up at the riverfront Fair Haven housing project Wednesday afternoon to receive his donated bag.

The event at the newly rebuilt Q Terrace was sponsored by Marrakech, Inc. Lindsay Foster (pictured, with the clipboard), Marrakech special events coordinator, was in charge of the project.

“This is the best day of the year,” opined Marrakech executive director Frank McCarthy. He was there along with several staff members to oversee the distribution of the backpacks — and the pizza. Staff and board members of the agency — which provides case management services to the families in the Hope VI development — donated most of the 170 backpacks and supplies, while Anthem/Blue Cross donated 20 packs and 140 lunch bags.

Anne Marie Crews (pictured, left), senior case manager at Marrakech, read some thank you letters from the kids and parents and a certificate of appreciation she presented to Foster.

Each pack was labeled with a specific child’s name — mostly pink for girls, mostly darker “boy” colors for boys. A few had wheels and pull-up handles. Was anybody dissatisfied with the one they got? “I heard a younger girl say, ‘That’s a boy’s bag!’ when we gave an older girl a blue pack,” Foster said. “But the older girl didn’t seem to mind.”

School will be starting in just a few weeks — perhaps all too soon for some of these young students. At least they’ll be going in style.