The Welcome Hall Mission is helping kids get ready for back-to-school by handing out thousands of backpacks full of school supplies. For 25 years, The Welcome Hall Mission has hosted the event that helps students and their families. “We’re giving out backpacks fully loaded with school supplies, but we’re also providing parents with information about services here in the community that are available to them,” said Welcome Hall president and CEO Sam Watt. Back-to-school is the focus, yet some games and crafts made this event a community gathering. “Montreal North is really a middle-class neighbourhood, but it does have a large segment of people who live below the poverty line, a significant number of single-parent families, and the highest level of people leaving school before graduating,” said Watts. Special guests like Alouettes football players helped with the “School is Cool” vibe. “I loved school. I was a great student, actually!” said quarterback Davis Alexander, His teammate, linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku said it gives kids a great boost as they prep for new beginnings. “I think they’re feeling great about their self and probably, you know, start school with a little more motivation,” he said.
