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Lisa S.C. Parker, a volunteer from Maine Family Federal Credit Union, assembles backpacks with school supplies Wednesday at the United Way of Western Maine office in downtown Lewiston. (Libby Kamrowski Kenny/Staff Photographer)

LEWISTON — About 40 Maine Family Federal Credit Union volunteers gathered to pack 2,500 bags to give to children across Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin counties.

The completed kits contain school essentials like notebooks, writing and drawing utensils and more, and will be distributed at local events, including the Lewiston Public Schools Summer Outreach event set for 3-6 p.m. Thursday at 145 Birch St. in Lewiston.

All materials were donated by local sponsors and not taken from United Way’s annual campaign donations, said Executive Director Joleeen Bedard, a measure for which she said her office is thankful, and a way they can “wish the kiddos a great school year.”

Maine Family Federal Credit Union volunteers, from left, Rachel McKinley, Danielle Chabot, Lisa S.C. Parker and Linda Knight assemble backpacks filled with school supplies Wednesday at the United Way of Western Maine office in downtown Lewiston. About 40 people gathered to pack 2,500 bags to give to children across Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin counties. The completed kits contain school essentials like notebooks, writing and drawing utensils and more, and will be distributed at local events, including the Lewiston Public Schools Summer Outreach event set for 3-6 p.m. Thursday at 145 Birch St. All materials were donated by local sponsors and not taken from United Way’s annual campaign donations said Executive Director Joleeen Bedard, a measure for which she said her office is thankful, and a way they can “wish the kiddos a great school year.” (Libby Kamrowski Kenny/Staff Photographer)

Libby Kamrowski Kenny is a staff photographer at the Sun Journal who came aboard in June 2025. She’s been in journalism longer than that though, as her prematurely graying hair can attest, starting as...

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