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Back to School: Help us help kids! 

Donate School Supplies and Make a Difference!

Help us ensure every child in our community starts the school year with the supplies they need to succeed. At the end of August, we will be hosting a Back to School Picnic where we will distribute filled and prepared backpacks to children from families struggling with low income or new to the United States. These families, often without access to credit, find it difficult to afford basic necessities, let alone school supplies.

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The Reality

For many parents, back-to-school expenses are a significant burden. A third of parents (33%) are relying entirely on credit cards to cover these costs, but families at the poverty line or below often don't have this option. As Heather Clawson, Ph.D., from Communities in Schools, points out, “When you’re talking about, even at a low end, $1,000 out of pocket, for really any family it’s quite an expense. For our families living at or below the poverty line, this is really significant. Many of these families are not single-child households. They have multiple children, so compound that cost by two, three, or four kids spanning across K through 12, and you’re talking about a couple of mortgage or rent payments potentially, and money that would otherwise pay for food or the electric bill.”

How You Can Help

By donating school supplies, you can alleviate some of this burden and help ensure every child starts the school year ready to learn. Anything from the following list would help us have to purchase less or make a one-off donation here:

  • Pocket Folders

  • WIDE RULED Spiral Notebooks

  • WIDE RULED Loose Leaf Paper

  • #2 Pencils

  • Pencil Sharpener & Erasers

  • Pencil Case or Box

  • Packs Black and Blue Pens

  • Three Ring Binders 2"

  • Highlighters & Index Cards

  • Glue Sticks

  • Colored Pencils & Colored Markers

  • Large, Very Sturdy Backpack

  • Pack Sharpies Bold or Fine

  • Small Hand Sanitizer

  • WIDE RULED Composition Notebooks

  • Quart, Gallon, or Snack Zip Loc Bags

  • Scotch Tape & Sticky Notes

  • Ruler With Metrics

  • Scissors

  • 24 Pack Crayons

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Volunteer at the Bash!

We need lots of helpers to make the Back to School Bash a fun day for all! Join us at the end of August for a day of joy and community spirit at:

  • Northport Apts. 1740 Northport Dr.​ 

  • Packer Townhouses 1927 Northport Dr.​

Volunteers will assist in various activities including preparing and serving a delicious picnic lunch, organizing crafts, face painting, running carnival games with prizes, supervising the bounce house, and, of course, handing out school supplies.

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