PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland Police Department is holding its 10th annual Fill a Backpack Challenge , collecting school supplies for students in the community.

The department is asking donors to fill backpacks with basic school items, including pencils and sharpeners, crayons, colored pencils, rulers, glue, spiral notebooks, and blunt-edge scissors.

Donations will be accepted through Aug. 22 and can be dropped off in the department lobby at 109 Middle Street. Community policing coordinators will give out the filled backpacks to children in the district.

Last year, the Fill a Backpack Challenge collected 385 bags. Since its inception by Telecommunications Supervisor Cheryl Brewster, the drive has collected nearly 3,000 filled backpacks for children.

For more information, contact rg

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