Clinton Township offers free back-to-school backpacks, with a final 2020 Census message

CLINTON TOWNSHIP – The last day to respond to the United States Census is Sept. 30, 2020. Although time is running short, it takes very little time to fill out the 10-question survey, and the three options to respond are still available – online, by phone, or by mail.
 
To date, Clinton Township residents have responded to the 2020 Census in record numbers, but Township officials are determined to focus on the few difficult to count areas.
 
“It’s the children in those areas that we need to count,” said Township Supervisor Bob Cannon. “Children stand to benefit as a result of being counted because our region receives federal dollars for programs and services based on a full and accurate count,” he said. Cannon, a former teacher who taught for more than 25 years in the Utica Community School District, believes school-aged children in hard-to-count areas of the Township are the key to communicating the Census message to their parents.
 
Cannon, along with Deputy Supervisor Elizabeth Vogel are using the Township’s remaining Census grant dollars to purchase and distribute about 125 children’s backpacks, loaded with school supplies and health and safety essentials. The backpacks also include three census activities appropriate for third, fourth, and fifth graders and a final reminder for parents to get online, call or mail in their Census response.
 
“This year, I think parents postponed their annual shopping for school supplies because of the uncertainty of how and where will classes will proceed,” said Vogel. “I’m crestfallen that so many kids missed out on the annual tradition of picking out their school supplies. I hope these backpacks will bring an added sense of excitement, and even normalcy, as they dive into this new school year facing so many extra challenges.”
 
Vogel went on to say that teachers are also in unchartered territory when it comes to their preparation for the upcoming school year.  “We’re offering teacher kits as well that include a variety of PPE as well as teacher guides they can use to talk about the census in the classroom,” she said. Vogel said the distribution of the backpacks would take place next week.
 
To respond to the Census online, go to www.my2020census.gov; by phone, call 844-330-2020, or fill out the questionnaire mailed to your household in mid-April. Once complete, return it to U.S. Census Bureau, National Processing Center, 100 Logistics Avenue, Jeffersonville, IN 47144.