A substitute teacher in the Issaquah School District for 20 years, Shari Thomas knows there are a lot of hurting students in the area.

So when the Issaquah Woman’s Club partnered with several other groups in the area to stuff 300 backpacks for school supplies, she decided to join the effort.

“It’s hard to do school when you don’t have all the tools for it,” she said, stuffing a glue stick and pack of pens into a backpack. “These kids now have the opportunity to start out on the same foot as all the other students.”

Several groups united through the program this year – including Kiwanis and The Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank – by collecting supplies from donation bins and raising money to fill in what was missing.

A few years back the district took care of distribution, but it’s since left that up to the food bank.

For struggling families, it’s a relief, said Cori Kauk, executive director of the food bank. “We have families that can’t afford the bills, little alone spend $50 on a backpack.”

The groups met a week ago to fill the backpacks at AtWork!, which offered its warehouse to store all of the bags. Volunteers created an assembly line of pencil packs, Pee Chee folders, and crayons.

One by one, pink, blue, orange and flowered bags were passed down the line.

It’s important that the backpacks look different, because it keeps kids who receive them from sticking out, Kauk said. “Kids need to fit in.”

It also gives them something to be excited about, said Christy Teel, AtWork! manager of productions. “It just builds their self esteem and confidence.”

Most of the 300 students signed up for backpacks are in elementary school, but high school students also make up a large portion, Kauk said.

While Issaquah carries a reputation for affluent families, there is still a need, Thomas said. “It’s a mixed a community.”

Need a backpack? Call Cori Kauk at the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank to sign up, 425-392-4123. Distribution is Aug. 26-27.