A group of employees at Butterfield Bank wants to make sure that every child in Bermuda has the chance for a fresh start at the beginning of the school year.

So, Butterfield employees got together to stuff 300 new school backpacks full of supplies which will be donated to needy students at schools across the Island by the Butterfield Corporate Responsibility Committee manned by Butterfield employees.

Supplies consisted of lunch boxes, pencil cases, pens, rulers, hand sanitiser, a key ring, erasers and notebooks.

"The committee first started the back-to-school fundraising drive last year," said Edwina Bowen, Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communications, and chairperson of the committee. We felt it was a very good initiative to continue the next year based on the feedback we received from the community.

"We came up with a series of initiatives we felt would make a difference in the community, including this one," said Ms Bowen.

Last year, they gave away 230 backpacks. This year, demand had increased.

The committee went to the schools themselves to find out who was in need. They found that some schools only needed three or four backpacks, while others needed more than 70.

"We went to all of the schools and contacted the principals and student counsellors to establish the need in the school system," said Ms Bowen. "When we called we promised anonymity. We didn't need to know names, just the numbers of backpacks needed at the school."

It was then up to teachers and school principals to contact the recipients before school started.

The backpacks vary in size and colour, and there is no branding to make the bags stand out.

"When we contacted the schools, the principals let us know what the students really needed," said Jennifer Fray, assistant vice president of consumer credit, and vice chair of the committee.

"Many students also needed help with buying new school uniforms, including physical education uniforms.

"There is a need for everything with our children, and the need is greater in some schools more than in others."

The committee now plans to look at how they can expand next year to help meet these needs.

"Butterfield realises there is no better way to help with the community than to help its youth," said Ms Bowen. "That is why we have this initiative in place."

Money for the project was raised through four denim days at the bank. Butterfield bank employees paid $5 for the privilege of wearing denim to work.

Ms Fray said many employees didn't wear denim on the designated days, but still donated money to the cause. Some people donated more than $5.

"I am proud to say that Butterfield Bank matched the employee donations," said Ms Bowen. "We want to be seen as the number one bank in the community. We want to continue on helping those students who are there."

Ms Bowen said the committee wanted to make a difference in the community and help wherever needed.

"We will continue to have our initiatives where we reach out to the community," she said. "We want to help support anyone who needs a helping hand."

She thanked all the volunteers from the bank who stuffed the backpacks.

"We had 25 volunteers sign up to stuff bags," said Ms Fray. "They came with much gusto and enthusiasm. They finished in less time than we had allocated.

"We were scheduled to pack from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and it was all over by 11.15 a.m.. There were others who wanted to come and help us stuff, but we had enough people.

"We find that our employees are always ready and willing to support us, whenever they know there is a good cause like this."