The start of a new school year can be challenging for children.

But thanks to residents at Kelly Ridge, an ABHOW community in South Lake Tahoe, some elementary school students will return to class with backpacks filled with school supplies.

This is the third year Kelly Ridge residents have filled about 20 new backpacks with items such as pencils, pens, crayons, paper, scissors and rulers. The backpacks will be delivered to Bijou Community School students.

Kelly Ridge residents filled backpacks for Bijou students. Photo/Provided

Residents will add notes of encouragement to the backpacks, giving the students an extra push to start the school year.

“A lot of kids don’t have extra things,” says Mary Burke, who formulated the idea for the backpack project along with Florence Roach. “I love kids, and I can’t stand to see some of them do without.

“I have grandchildren, and I knew they start each school year with a new backpack, so the idea just came up.”

In the past, the backpacks were simply dropped off at the school. This year, Shanks says she hopes residents will be able to give the backpacks to students in person.