Donors help with school supplies
Staff writer
Cash registers will ring along with school bells as summer draws to a close.
Buying school supplies can be a hardship for parents struggling to get by, but donations can help ensure that Marion County kids have what they need for school.
In Hillsboro, Tabor College and Parkview Homes hold school supply drives along with churches and community groups.
Supplies are stored at Hillsboro Elementary until needed and counselor Autumn Harvey makes up for any shortages with money from her after-school fund account.
“If anyone has donations they would like to make, after Aug. 1 they can bring them to the elementary school office and leave a note that they are for me, and I’ll put them in the supply closet,” Harvey said.
Marianne Kohman, board clerk at Centre schools, said her district didn’t require many supplies, but donations come in nonetheless from residents and churches.
Joni Smith, district clerk at Goessel, said churches provided many items.
“At enrollment we have them all set out, and during the day they can also come to the office,” Smith said.
Ron Traxson, superintendent at Peabody-Burns, said various people and organizations provide school supplies.
“We’ve had individuals who have raised money through sales,” Traxson said. “We had one last year at the farmers market. They do a really good job of providing kids with supplies if they don’t have them, even backpacks.”
While the district itself doesn’t organize an activity to bring in supplies, Peabody United Methodist Church does.
Pastor Angela DeFisher said the congregation had conducted a school supply drive for several years.
“We call it the back-to-school bash,” DeFisher said. “This year it will be Aug. 20. It is the Sunday just before the start of school.”
The event will include a free swim at the park, a hot dog picnic, and a blessing of backpacks.
“We usually just take the supplies we gather to the school for them to take to the office to distribute as they need,” DeFisher said.
Churches and businesses in Marion also donate supplies.
Amy Kjellin from Butler Community College puts out collection boxes and delivers donated supplies to schools.
At Valley United Methodist Church, an announcement goes in the church bulletin and a box is set out for donations.