It’s almost back to school time and this year, all four branches of the New Tripoli Bank are getting into the act with a backpack and school supply drive.

The bank is inviting the community to contribute new items like backpacks, hoodies, sweatpants, personal care items and school supplies for area students in need.

“This is actually the first year we’re doing this,” said David Malafarina the bank’s social media and marketing specialist.

“This is the brainchild of Sundra Sherwin,” he explained.

Sherwin, a bank administrator, took the inspiration from East Penn, identifying a need among their underprivileged children for items like sweatshirts and school supplies.

According to Sherwin, the donations were “discreetly distributed” to spare the kids any embarrassment.

“It’s a wonderful program and we really wanted to do it here,” she said.

The project fits the bank’s mission.

“Being a community bank, we strive to help out in our community,” she continued.

The program was implemented on July 30 and ends on Aug. 20.

“We collected a large number of items at the New Tripoli site,” Malafarina said. “We have employees donating as well.”

“All these little things, no matter how small, help,” Sherwin said.

The supplies will be redistributed to the four branches of the New Tripoli Bank before they are passed on to four school districts: Emmaus, Parkland, Northwestern and Slatington.

“Most of my contacts are guidance counselors,” Malafarina said.

“Once we have all our donations, we’ll call the schools and they’ll send someone to pick up what we’ve collected,” he said.

In the past, the bank accepted collections of food for local food banks and pet supplies for local shelters.

Though food donations are welcomed on an ongoing basis, the effort is accelerated at the end of the year.

“We’re always collecting food donations, but we make an actual push in November for the entire month, just ahead of the holidays,” Malafarina said.

That said, the focus now is on the start of the new school year.

“We want to do this every year,” Malafarina said. “Our community is very generous.”