But for one in five children in the Waterloo Region, the first day of school is a source of real stress, anxiety and dread. No new clothes, no new shoes, no Scooby Doo lunch box – they stand out from their peers, and suddenly the poverty line becomes quite clear. New clothes and lunch boxes seem like superficial concerns, but this can be a devastating experience for young ones, as they feel shame and embarrassment and their self-confidence plummets.

So fifteen years ago Jill Malleck, a Manulife employee at the time, decided something must be done, as she sought to turn every child’s first day into a positive and exciting experience. Along with a group of other Manulife colleagues, Jill began a campaign to provide new outfits, shoes and school supplies for children whose teachers said suffered both socially and academically due to poverty.

Today almost 10,000 backpacks have been delivered to children in Waterloo Region with the help of more than 75 Manulife employees, more then 40 of whom worked on the original campaign! Each backpack includes a pair of sturdy pants (ie cargos, jeans or cords), a warm sweater or sweatshirt, underwear and socks, a pair of running shoes for gym class and grade-appropriate school supplies.

Manulife employees continue to support the Send’Em Off Smiling program on their evenings and weekends, packing and double checking backpacks, and delivering the backpacks just before school.

Learn more about the fantastic Send’Em Off Smiling organization or implement a Shop and Drop program in your workplace, and work together as a corporate team to support underprivileged children.

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