Students from the Middle School of the Kennebunks helped fill and donate over 100 backpacks to Head Start in Sanford last month, benefiting youths in the community.

The backpacks, secured through a donation to the Middle School of the Kennebunks Parent Teacher Group, contained educational materials for preschoolers, including books, crayons, jumbo pencils, paper, paints, markers and playdough.

Some of the backpacks also included fleece blankets made by seventh graders, global studies teacher Polly Meinders said.

“When the students went to pick out their materials, they picked some out geared for little kids, too,” she said.

When the middle school received the backpacks, the Student Council got to work on figuring out how to collect items for the children at Head Start.

“We had a competition,” Meinders said. “The homerooms that had the most supplies would win an ice cream party.”

After three weeks, the students had gathered enough supplies to fill 120 backpacks, and a group of students from all three grades were able to donate the backpacks in person at Head Start.

During their morning visit, the middle schoolers spent time reading and playing on the playground with the 3- and 4-year-old Head Start students, exercising their abilities to be role models for the younger generation.

“They were so cute on both sides,” Meinders said. “The little kids were so happy to see our kids, and our kids were just delighted to hang out with them.”

Cecily Silva, director of Head Start for York County, said building literacy is one of the main goals at Head Start, and one-on-one moments like middle schoolers taking time to read to preschoolers can serve to reinforce that idea and create social relationships.

“We’re grateful to the Middle School of the Kennebunks for their generous gifts and their time connecting with our students,” Silva said.

Sanford Head Start is operated by York County Community Action Corp., which provides comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition and family support services to low-income children and families.

The opportunity to give back to the community, especially to younger students in need, was an important moment for the middle schoolers, Meinders said.

“They know now that it doesn’t take much to make a difference,” Meinders said. “It brought a lot of joy.”