Kids receive backpacks, school supplies

U.S. Bank in Seattle provided free backpacks and school supplies last week to 244 children who reside at Appian Way Apartments in Kent.

Bank employee volunteers, along with several community partners, distributed the backpacks and school supplies, along with pizza and ice cream.

Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke was also in attendance. Sharon Hughes, U.S. Bank vice president of community affairs, spoke at the event.

“U.S. Bank is proud to partner with Mercy Housing, the developer of Appian Way Apartments, to support the greater Seattle community,” Hughes said. “This event is one of many ways that U.S. Bank gives back to the communities where it does business.”

U.S. Bank supports Appian Way by serving on its board of directors and finance committee, financing development throughout the State of Washington and investing in the organization.

“We are grateful to U.S. Bank for providing backpacks for youth at Appian Way,” said Paul Chiocco, vice president of resource development and operations for Mercy Housing Northwest. “Distributing the backpacks was a fun event and a great way to launch into our year-long efforts to support children’s chances to start and succeed in school.”

The backpacks and school materials were supplied through collaboration between U.S. Bank and Portland-based nonprofit Schoolhouse Supplies. U.S. Bank and Schoolhouse Supplies have been partners since 2001.

With a legacy dating back to the founding of Peoples National Bank of Washington in 1889, U.S. Bank now has 88 branches and 1,388 employees in Seattle. The bank is a community partner, providing more than $1.3 million in local charitable contributions and 2,300 volunteer hours by employees last year at nonprofit organizations in the Seattle area.