Bradford Regional Medical Center employees packed 240 backpacks this week with a variety of school supplies which will benefit area elementary students this school year.

The donated backpacks will be distributed to students who might otherwise go without necessary school supplies. In its ninth year, the program benefits students in Bradford, Smethport and Otto-Eldred schools. Students receiving the backpacks will find items such as pencils, erasers, scissors, paper, crayons, rulers, glue sticks and pencil sharpeners to start the school year. All items are donated by employees at BRMC.

“The backpack program is ‘near and dear’ to our hospital staff as they want to assure that area elementary students are able to start their school years with the support and supplies that will help them succeed academically. Our staff members don’t believe that school children should have to go without needed school supplies because their families may not be able to afford them,” said Timothy J. Finan, president, chief executive officer, UAHS, BRMC and Olean (N.Y.) General Hospital.

The backpack program is part of the hospital’s Community Connections initiative, a program where employees volunteer their time to educate the community on a variety of health and wellness issues to promote healthier lifestyles and address community health, safety and social needs in the hospital’s service area.