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Atlanta Sisters Raise Thousands To Gift Refugee Children With School Supplies

August 11, 2021

Two sisters have made it their mission to help local refugee families who are unable to afford backpacks and school supplies as students begin the new school year.

Lily and Evie Babcock

Lily Babcock, 17, recently worked a summer camp with refugee children.

"I've always loved going back to school with like, fancy pencils. It's really helped me love learning," Lilly told 11 Alive.

"I realized if we could help get school supplies for all of these children, that it could help them have that same love for learning and happiness that I've experienced."

So, Lily and her 14-year-old sister, Evie, baked and campaigned to raise enough money to stuff a few backpacks with supplies.

"We raised over $4,000," Lily said. "That's 240 stuffed backpacks, so that's really exciting!"

The backpacks will be distributed to refugee children in the Atlanta area with the help of New American Pathways. Chief Advancement Officer Nancy Gaddy said refugee families they serve often don't have money for or access to school supplies.

"These are people that have mostly been in horrific circumstances and situations all over the world," Gaddy explained. "Some are victims of health crises, or natural disasters. The last thing you want a parent to be doing is scrambling just to get a book bag and paper and supplies."

Lilly and Evie helped stuff the backpacks and sent them off before school began.

Watch the video below.