Buying backpacks: Criminal justice honorary lends a hand to kids in need

School supplies can be expensive. Think about the kids who show up to school without supplies because their parents can’t afford even the bare minimum.

Thanks to Heidelberg’s chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma, the Criminal Justice honorary, a special group of 10 local children already have school supplies for the fall, and won’t have to face the stress of going without.

“We thought this would be a great way to support the kids whose lives have been impacted by the criminal justice system and whose families just need a little support,” said Dr. Sarah Lazzari, assistant professor of Criminology and Sociology and Alpha Phi Sigma’s advisor.

When Sarah shared this need with the members of Alpha Phi Sigma, they sprang into action, pulling off a big project during the last week of classes and finals.

Leading the charge was Alpha Phi Sigma President Madison Mosier, a junior Criminology and Biology double major from Parma, Ohio. Also participating in the project were Paige Collins, Natalie Lutz, Dominic Regalado, Aiden Sullivan, Ella Hoover, Yaniah Powell, Hope Kreais, and Cassidy Berringer.

“With our theme for the year being Juvenile Justice, this project seemed like the perfect opportunity to get involved in the community,” Madison said. “We aim to use our organization to benefit those in need. With many programs in Tiffin helping struggling individuals and families, we knew nearing the end of the year that school supplies might be hard for some people to obtain for next year. We wanted to be the helping hand to these families and use our funding toward something really important.”

After speaking with Shannon Maag, a program manager for Oriana House, Alpha Phi Sigma’s wheels were set in motion. Oriana House is an independent, non-profit community corrections agency that provides behavioral health and community corrections services. The agency helps communities and individuals address issues of addiction, mental health, community corrections and re-entry. Shannon connected the ’Berg students with the local court system’s PIVOT sobriety program and Seneca County’s Probation Services to get more details.

After learning what the kids needed most, Alpha Phi Sigma members conducted a school supply drive on campus, gathered school supply lists and raised about $700 to purchase and fill 10 backpacks with school supplies for children from kindergarten to eighth grade.

The reward for the ’Berg students is knowing they made a difference by being a helping hand to these families in need. “We really love the idea of helping our community of Tiffin, which has become a second home to all of us students,” Madison said. “Doing this one thing to help out a family or make a child smile will always be something we as a group strive to accomplish.”

According to Sarah, their contribution of backpacks will have an even deeper meaning for the children who received them.

“If we can make these vulnerable kiddos feel more prepared, more stable and more confident, think about the ways they could soar through their upcoming school year!” she said.