![Crestview Lions Club members are sending school supplies to Bay County schools Thursday morning. This most recent photo is one where they accepted a community service award from a Lions Governor for their help with area residents' vision, hunger, disaster relief warm clothing and other needs. [SPECIAL TO THE NEWS BULLETIN]](http://127.0.0.1/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ghows-DA-79743181-1876-48e4-e053-0100007ff421-5169298c.jpeg)
CRESTVIEW — Steve Lubas, president of the Crestview Lions Club, said members are collecting school backpacks through the end of the day Wednesday for shipment to the Bay County School District, where most students return to school Nov. 5.
The club is sending a shipment of finished backpacks to Bay County Schools early Thursday morning.
"Right now we have 50 backpacks we will be running down there. Bay County Schools have a requirement that everything has to be new, and based on age," he said.
A list of the supplies BCS is requesting for the backpacks is available at https://bit.ly/2PuPbI7 on the club's Facebook page.
"We'll also take donations from the community. We can be a conduit also for any type of monies you want to donate to the program itself. We'll actually be giving the money directly to Bay County Schools for the items they want to purchase," Lubas said. Whatever sections in the destruction zone people want to contribute to, Lions members will get it to them. Lions Clubs from Port St. Joe through Virginia are coordinating these efforts.
Outside of school supplies, two more pressing needs are diapers of all sizes and food, the local club president said.
Items for the Thursday shipment may be dropped off at Crestview Eye Site, 1005 Ferdon Blvd. S, or Cabana Eyes Optical, 4100 Ferdon Blvd. S, Suite B5, Crestview.
Contact Lubas, 401-742-2092, or visit the club's Facebook page for more information.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Lions Club taking donations for hurricane-affected schools