MANCHESTER — There is still time to donate new school supplies to Citizens Bank’s Gear for Grades initiative that will send 3,000 local children back to school with pencils, pens, notebooks, folders and other school supplies that may be donated through Friday at any Citizens Bank branch across New Hampshire.

“The Gear for Grades program has sent so many children in New Hampshire and across our footprint back to school with supplies to help them achieve academic success,” said Joe Carelli, president of Citizens Bank in New Hampshire. “We thank everyone who has already donated to this program and remind those who would like to donate that there is still time to make a small contribution of a notebook, a pack of pencils or pens that will have a lasting impact on children in our community.”

This year’s Gear for Grades program is supported by Child & Family Services of New Hampshire, 95.7 WZID, and the New Hampshire Union Leader. In addition to donating 3,000 backpacks to the program, volunteers from Citizens Bank will stuff the backpacks with donated supplies and assist with distribution events. Since 2003, Gear for Grades has provided more than 200,000 children in Citizens Bank areas with new backpacks