National Grid delivers 100 backpacks to Lyndonville students

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – Representatives from National Grid stopped in Lyndonville to deliver 100 backpacks to students.

It is part of an overall outreach in Western New York where the utility company is giving away 2,000 backpacks, which have school supplies, personal care items and a water bottle inside.

The National Grid representatives include Mark Johnson, community manager; Leslie Vishwanath, regional exterior affairs manager; and Tracy Sutherland, regional account services.

The backpacks were delivered in the parking lot at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church, which is hosting a summer recreation program. The students in the rec program as well as summer school at Lyndonville were able to receive backpacks.

The backpacks with school supplies is especially helpful for the district, which is operated under a contingency budget. The district is unable to purchase school supplies for students with district funds due to the contingency budget.

Dr. Elissa Smith, elementary school principal, said she and many of the families appreciate the donation from National Grid.

“We want as little impact to the students as possible,” Dr. Smith said about the contingency budget implications.