School supplies collection at Regional Rec Centers

[kittygilchrist]

Villagers, we are in the midst of some communities of economically disadvantaged youth. 80% of children in many areas surrounding us get free/reduced lunches. These kids are being asked to bring a backpack full of supplies to class August 6.

Many may not be able to afford the supplies, much less a backpack. Our opportunity to donate is time-limited but we still have a few days to deliver items to the REGIONAL rec center in the county of our choice.

Highest need: Backpacks
Next: Kindermats
Towels for resting on kindermat
Pencils
Erasers, cap and bar
Pencil pouches
Crayons
Glue stick
Markers
Erasable markers
Notebook paper wide rule
Spiral notebooks
Rulers, inches and centimeters
Colored pencils
Two pocket folders with prongs
Highlighters
Graph paper
Sheet protectors

for classrooms:
ziplocs, all sizes
hand sanitizer, large bottles
handiwipes
cotton balls
alcohol
Kleenex and more Kleenex
scissors
dry erase markers and erasers
sharpie markers
magic markers
band aids, non-latex

Let's do it.
Kitty

[bkcunningham1]

@Kitty, if I'm not mistaken, August 2-4 is Florida's tax-free weekend for purchasing certain school supplies. http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/tips/pdf/tip13a01-04.pdf

[PammyJ]

Kudos to you for organizing this! The school supplies will help out tremendously! I work at a school in another county with high poverty as well. Every year I try to find organizations to help me put shoes and socks on students who cannot afford them and support for eye glasses for students who need them and can not afford them. These are two areas that will be high need in any high poverty area that many do not think of. Every-year I find someone who will help out the children! I call them angels! Just a few more ideas that will help throughout the year.

[kittygilchrist]

Kudos to you for organizing this! The school supplies will help out tremendously! I work at a school in another county with high poverty as well. Every year I try to find organizations to help me put shoes and socks on students who cannot afford them and support for eye glasses for students who need them and can not afford them. These are two areas that will be high need in any high poverty area that many do not think of. Every-year I find someone who will help out the children! I call them angels! Just a few more ideas that will help throughout the year.

PammyJ, what size shoes and socks do you need? Plenty of Villagers will go shopping and can toss them in the backpack.
Kitty
also, I DID NOT organize this collection at regional centers, I just heard about it and shouted.

[PammyJ]

PammyJ, what size shoes and socks do you need? Plenty of Villagers will go shopping and can toss them in the backpack.
Kitty

Since elementary schools in my county are preK-6 any child's size will help. What I suggest is maybe picking a school and donating new shoes to school counselor. What happens is some students either don't get new shoes every year or in winter time only have sandals to wear. This works well for jackets as well. You would not believe the amount of students that don't have jackets to wear when it is cold. The school can keep a stash as students need them. Iusually wait until school starts and specifically compile a list based on need. My supporters will then go shopping for specific students and deliver shoes to school.

[Jejuca]

The Lion's Club may be able to help with eye exams and glasses.

[ilovetv]

Kitty, what organization is collecting supplies at the regional rec centers, and what schools are the beneficiaries?

Thanks for the opportunity to give back in thanks for all our blessings.

[kittygilchrist]

ilovetv, I don't know the answer to that. If you can find out from VCDD and post, it would be welcome info. I'm sure that anyone wishing to designate to a particular school could go to the school and do that.

[ilovetv]

ilovetv, I don't know the answer to that. If you can find out from VCDD and post, it would be welcome info. I'm sure that anyone wishing to designate to a particular school could go to the school and do that.

Is this the collection drive?

Frank Slaughter Insurance (http://www.frankslaughterinsurance.com/index.php?id=281)

[kittygilchrist]

Is this the collection drive?

Frank Slaughter Insurance (http://www.frankslaughterinsurance.com/index.php?id=281)

Looks like it...if so hats off and hope they get some business from putting heart into the community.

[kittygilchrist]

bump

[THE NEWCOMER]

I'm stuck in VA and would like to send a check. I would like a name and address to mail to. Thanks!

[kittygilchrist]

I'm stuck in VA and would like to send a check. I would like a name and address to mail to. Thanks!

any particular county or type supplies/shoes you want to get?
I'll try to help you make connections.
Kitty

[THE NEWCOMER]

any particular county or type supplies/shoes you want to get?
I'll try to help you make connections.
Kitty

Wildwood/ School supply for the kids! Thanks!

[graciegirl]

I think the drive is for all area schools including Lady Lake and Fruitland Park and Leesburg.

Many churches are backing the backpack program too. I know our village does and the Colored Pencil Painters Guild does too.

We are a bunch of involved and caring folks here.

The guidance counselor for Lady Lake school came to our village meeting to thank us for our support of the backpack program. We were very surprised to learn that homeless children go to that school. She is a great educator and facilitator for good for her kids. It was most inspiring.

[kittygilchrist]

Here are a couple of sites where you can order in bulk.

Middle School (http://www.wholesale-backpacks.com/Category/Middle-School_19.htm)

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/wholesale-school-supplies

ship to City Hall
100 n. main st.
wildwood, fl 24785

will that work for you??? if not, I'll try again for where to send a check that will target wildwood.

[rayschic]

Here are a couple of sites where you can order in bulk.

Middle School (http://www.wholesale-backpacks.com/Category/Middle-School_19.htm)

Wholesale School Supplies | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/bhp/wholesale-school-supplies)

ship to City Hall
100 n. main st.
wildwood, fl 24785

will that work for you??? if not, I'll try again for where to send a check that will target wildwood.

On the link above that was posted by ilovetv, there is an address for anyone that wants to send a check.

"Checks made payable to Youth United Way-Sumter are to be mailed to PO Box 490720, Leesburg, FL 34749."

[kittygilchrist]

I'm stuck in VA and would like to send a check. I would like a name and address to mail to. Thanks!

Checks for Wildwood only to
Wildwood Elem/High
700 Huey St
Wildwood, fl 34789

Wildwood Elem
300 Huey St
WWD, fl 34789

May be designated to:
backpacks
supplies
uniforms or
no designation

[obxgal]

I don't know why everyone thinks these drives are something new here in the villages. They have been having them every year just before school starts and usually announce them prior to the Florida "tax free" school shopping holiday.

[DougB]

Well, apparently now there is a better awareness of them. Go with the flow!

[jbdlfan]

Please, if so inclined, remember your neighbors to the north.

Lake Weir Middle School
10220 SE Sunset Harbor Road, Summerfield, Florida 34491
Phone: 671-6120 Fax: 671-6121

Stanton Weirsdale Elementary
16705 SE 134th Terrace, Weirsdale, Florida 32195-9783
Phone: 671-6150 Fax: 671-6155

[kittygilchrist]

I don't know why everyone thinks these drives are something new here in the villages. They have been having them every year just before school starts and usually announce them prior to the Florida "tax free" school shopping holiday.

You were in the know, but I am new here and just found out. If you had let us all know sooner, that would have been a good way to use your inside info. Anyhow, we all know now, but you knew all along.

[graciegirl]

Doesn't matter who knew or when.

Helping out is a very good thing. Kindness begets kindness and will circle around for awhile and plop itself back on your doorstep.

I see the hospital volunteers in other places doing good things.

And many people who post on here are working in soup kitchens and helping to build homes for habitat for humanity and knitting sweaters for little ones and making quilts and delivering meals to seniors.

And then there are the silent helpers who just send a little financial aid directly to someone who needs it.

I like being in this community.

[kittygilchrist]

donate at any rec center for distribution to the county in which donated (I think).
donate $$ to the address of the individual school or county school board.
donate stuff to Wildwood City hall for Wildwood schools only

[kittygilchrist]

bump for kids

[Schaumburger]

Bump for the kids needing school supplies. One of my favorite things to do when I was a kid (that was in another century LOL) was buy my school supplies every August.