INDIANAPOLIS – Huntington National Bank today announced that it is donating 1,000 backpacks including school supplies to Central Indiana charitable organizations supporting area schoolchildren in need. The donation, in partnership with Big Lots and Meijer, is part of a $100,000 backpack and school supplies set giveaway throughout the communities Huntington serves.

According to the 2009 Huntington Backpack Index of school supplies costs, families who have been hit hard by the economy face higher costs than ever to outfit their children with the supplies school districts require at the start of the new school year. During Huntington’s donation of backpacks and school supplies to BackPack Attack and Salvation Army Indiana today, Huntington Central Indiana President Mike Newbold called on all members of the Indianapolis community to help area families in need.

“Thousands of Central Indiana schoolchildren need help showing up prepared as the start of school comes rapidly upon us,” Newbold said. “Huntington is glad to do our part and grateful for the generosity of our partners Big Lots and Meijer. But everyone in the community can join us in lending a hand.

“Huntington’s own Backpack Index shows us that the cost of school supplies have steadily risen over the past three years, especially for the extracurricular supplies that enrich the educational experience,” Newbold said. “Knowing the many families are struggling, we wanted to set an example for community stewardship in supporting our schools and our schoolchildren in greatest need.”

“Huntington’s donation is going to help 1,000 schoolchildren start school better prepared, and we know that the majority of those children will be attending Indianapolis Public Schools,” said Mashariki Jywanza, area schools coordinator for the district’s Bridges to Success program. “And today, I am truly happy for those children. However, I know there are many additional children whose families need a helping hand sending them off to school with a backpack filled with supplies. I encourage everyone with the resources to give to join area efforts to support the kids in our community.”

“As Huntington makes this school supplies donation today, there are still three days left before the Friday conclusion of the BackPack Attack school supplies drive,” said Maggie McFarlin, vice chair of the communitywide initiative. “There is still time to make a difference so that all of our schoolchildren can have the tools they need to learn when school starts.”

“Now is an important time to give generously,” said Major Richard Amick, divisional commander with Salvation Army Indiana. “Back-to-school time is one of the greatest annual expenses for many families, and with the troubled economy, too many families find themselves stretched too thin. Your school supplies donations can make a difference in a child’s learning experience.”

Huntington today donated 450 backpacks and school supplies sets to both BackPack Attack and Salvation Army Indiana. The remaining 100 backpacks and school supplies sets were distributed to other area charities supporting local schoolchildren.

For more information about the Huntington Backpack Index, go to www.huntington.com and click the Backpack Index link in News & Information.