School supply drive being planned for early August
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on July 23, 2014 1:46 PM
The more visible effort, a big yellow school bus parked in the newspaper office parking lot, will take place on Friday, Aug. 1, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. for ease of dropping off donations.
All items will be turned over to Communities in Schools, which will distribute them to local students.
Last year's event generated an estimated $6,500 in supplies and monetary donations, Mrs. Bennett said. But it didn't end there.
"After the initial event was held at the News-Argus, we continued to hear from other groups who wanted to participate. By Christmas, we had collected a total of $21,400 in supplies and donations. Some groups even brought in supplies at Christmas to be used for the second semester," she said.
The need for school supplies doesn't end in August or September, she added.
"Students move frequently throughout the school year," she said. "Many of our students are in situations where they do not have what they need as they move from school to school.
"Once these materials are received, they are counted and boxed by volunteers, then delivered to every school in the county before the opening day of the school year. School counselors and social workers know to expect the materials from CIS. Also, we keep some supplies stored throughout the year at the CIS office for emergency situations at our schools."
Mrs. Bennett said she would welcome the opportunity to work with other groups or organizations interested in coordinating a school supply drive at any time during the year.
Supplies needed range from notebook paper and composition books to backpacks and thumb drives, as well as all the typical basics.