Over 500 Charleston Families Receive Free Backpacks and Anti-Vaping Resources
In a bid to foster healthy habits among the city’s youth and steer them clear from the perils of vaping, over 500 Charleston families were the lucky recipients of free backpacks filled with school supplies and anti-vaping materials. The generous initiative, named “Backpacks for Bright Futures”, took place at the James Simons Montessori School and was orchestrated by The American Lung Association. This effort is designed to tackle dual challenges facing families – increasing back-to-school costs and the risk posed to children by youth vaping.
“Our aim with the Backpacks for Bright Futures was to address two significant needs in our community: the mounting back-to-school expenses and protecting children from the detrimental effects of vaping,” asserts Margaret Ann Youngs, Development Director for The Lung Association in South Carolina.
Growing Youth Vaping Concern
She further adds that youth vaping has turned into an epidemic, fueled by appealing flavors, stressful lives, and perceived ‘coolness’ driven by peers who vape. Youngs cites research indicating that young people using e-cigarettes are four times more likely to try a regular cigarette and are thrice as likely to develop an addiction to nicotine.
The Asthma Link to School Absenteeism
While vaping remains a key concern, the Lung Association also noted an alarming trend towards increasing asthma cases among school-going children. Asthma, statistics reveal, is the leading cause behind children missing school days. In fact, research states that over 13,000 cases of asthma have been diagnosed among children all over South Carolina.
Comprehensive Assistance to Charleston Families
This community outreach program provided more than just supplies and preventive health information. Medical professionals were present to provide lung health and asthma resources to families. Along with these, families also received hygiene kits, mental health resources, textured hair products, youth financial literacy resources, and even vouchers for free haircuts. Entertainment was further provided by Kyle “K’Otic” Johnson and Sing, Play & Dance with Miss Crystal.
Backpacks for Bright Futures
The Backpacks for Bright Futures was first launched in Charleston in 2023 as a multi-pronged approach to educating students and families about lung health and the inherent risks associated with youth vaping. The program also aims to reduce the financial pressure faced by families during the back-to-school period. In the previous year, the Lung Association and its partners distributed 250 backpacks, but managed to double the effort this year, much to the relief and gratitude of the community.
This philanthropic initiative by the American Lung Association, in collaboration with local partners, is laudable as it combines healthcare education, wellness, and financial aid into a single compassionate effort. It reinforces the preventive adage that ‘knowledge is power’ and enables families to better protect their children against harmful habits such as vaping, while easing some of their financial burden.
