The last day to donate to Red Canoe Credit Union’s annual “Fill the Canoe” school supply fundraiser is Friday, Aug. 16.
Red Canoe matches $1 for every $1 donated and a dollar per pound of school supplies donated. Each branch partners with a local organization, and this year marks the third that the Federal Way branch has partnered with local nonprofit We Love Our City Federal Way.
On the donation page, We Love Our City Federal Way emphasizes the importance of the drive by sharing that “over 76% of Federal Way students are classified as low income. That’s nearly 17,000 Federal Way students living close to or at the poverty level and 1,796 are homeless.”
Other local communities that participate in the drive include Albany, Castle Rock, Covington, Lake Tapps, Longview/Kelso, Puyallup and Woodland.
Federal Way Public Schools is one of the only districts in the area that directly provides school supplies for students, so for the Federal Way fundraiser, the ask is specifically for high quality backpacks. This essential tool is one that can make a big difference for students, but that the schools don’t provide.
Red Canoe is accepting cash donations as well as physical donations of typical school supplies.
Last year the fundraiser was able to help at least 633 students start the school year with a fresh new backpack.
As previously reported, the Red Canoe supply drive has been a signature event for the credit union since the first one in Longview in 2007. The first one in Federal Way was in 2009.
Throughout the years, community members have donated over 53,000 pounds of school supplies in Federal Way alone.
To donate online or to learn more, visit www.fillthecanoe.com/federal-way.
Donation locations
• Red Canoe Credit Union, 3316 Pacific Hwy. South in Federal Way
• Curves, 32020 1st Ave. S., #100-101 in Federal Way
• Family Life Community Church, 32275 32nd Ave. S. in Federal Way
• Light of Christ Community Garden, 34249 21st Ave. SW in Federal Way
• South King Fire and Rescue (all locations)
Donation contributor Vickie Chynoweth of Keller Williams dropping off 20 high quality backpacks. Photo provided by Red Canoe
