Apple Federal Credit Union has kicked off its Collect for Kids Program by joining community-based organizations to help get backpacks and supplies into the hands that need them most. Apple branches are accepting new back packs and monetary donations made at the branches and from Apple’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AppleFederalCreditUnion), and will match donations up to $5,000 until Aug. 15. According to the Fairfax County Public School System, for the 2011-2012 school year, 9.7 percent, or one in 10 children under age 18 live in poverty. The system also reported that 46,117 students, or 26.29 percent of their student enrollment, were eligible for free and reduced lunch.

In Fairfax County, Apple has joined forces with Fairfax County Public Schools, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, and more than a dozen non-profit organizations to collect back packs and cash donations (see https://www.applefcu.org/AppleWeb/CollectForKids for each county’s full list and branch drop-off locations).

Last year, Apple and the community partners the credit union teamed up with collected 20,000 back packs for children, and 17 percent more donations to Collect for Kids than received in 2011, said Cynthia McAree, VP of Marketing for Apple.

This is Apple’s ninth year helping to provide school supplies to children. McAree said Apple’s hope is to increase the number of children helped this year, as the need continues to grow.