August 30, 2023

Yesterday evening, staff member Sarah Ziegler took a joy-filled drive around downtown Lancaster. Her mission was to deliver 11 backpacks filled with school supplies to our SWAN students. 

The week before, our students and staff reunited after their summer camp session to perform at SDOL’s Back to School Event. Their bus driver connected SWAN to the local nonprofit Paying It Forward, which prepares backpacks for students in need each year. Directors Rosa and Everett VanPelt generously offered to provide a backpack filled with school supplies to every SWAN student who wanted one!

Sarah reflected on the experience saying, “The evening was filled with many hugs and smiles at each stop! Seeing these wonderful kids light up as they held and tried on their brand-new backpacks was such a joy. It didn’t feel fair to experience the results of Paying It Forward’s generosity! The evening probably brought as much joy to me as it did to the students and their families who received the supplies.”

By: Sarah Ziegler