Zeeland Tyson plant purchases backpacks for team members

ZEELAND — A local business purchased backpacks and school supplies for its team members to ease some uncertainty of the back-to-school season.

The Tyson Foods plant in Zeeland purchased 60 backpacks filled with supplies and handed them out to team members at the start of the school year.

“In the past, we’ve always given the opportunity to team members to donate school supplies,” Zeeland Chaplain Judy Nelson said.

“This year, things are really different. We wanted to still honor what we do as far as providing school supplies for children. In doing that, we are bringing a normalcy to kids no matter what abnormal circumstances they have.”

Instead of the typical school supply drive among the team members, backpacks were purchased for the team members.

The items in the backpack for the younger kids included a pencil bag, pencils, erasers, crayons, a glue stick, pencil sharpener, two pens, and a ruler. The older children received folders, notebooks, hand sanitizer, pens, pencils, crayons, highlighters, glue sticks, a pencil sharpener, a pencil bag, and sticky notes.

Some team members will request backpacks through the usual yearly drive, but Nelson said the internal need was greater this year amid COVID-19.

“Some have received year after year, but this year took on a lot different look,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve given out that many in the past to our own team.

“Maybe because they had to ask or maybe because the need just looked different this year. When I advertised that we were giving to our own team members, a greater number came forward. I appreciate that, it gives me a better expectation of the needs of our team members going forward.”

Team member Jivonna Dent received backpacks for her daughters Jasmine and Skyler, who are in fifth grade and kindergarten, respectively.

The children were excited to receive their new backpacks, with Skyler saying in a press release “I loved my backpack and I love school” and Jasmine adding “Thank you, I really like it and can use everything in it.”

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelMitch.