School Supplies Drive set for ninth year

PRESS RELEASE DATE: JULY 9, 2009

Martin Volunteers invites the community to participate in its ninth annual School Supplies for Students Drive going on now through Aug. 14.

The School Supplies for Students Drive responds to a strong need in the community by making the start of the school year a little easier for thousands of Martin County students.

Last year, the drive collected and distributed 39,092 items for 6,304 students in preschool through 12th grade. The drive serves youngsters throughout Martin County who qualify for the free and reduced-price lunch program that has seen an increase of 8 percent this year alone.

Items needed include pens, pencils, pencil cases, glue sticks, binders, two-pocket folders, crayons, colored pencils, markers, scissors, rulers, erasers, notebook paper, subject notebooks and composition books.

The drive has already received one major boost thanks to a sponsorship by Publix Super Markets Charities, Inc. and more businesses, groups and individuals are encouraged to participate. “Funds for this project are severely limited, and a little goes a long way,” Project Coordinator Anne Lalley said. “For as little as $20, you can supply a child with the essential items to begin the school year.”

Martin Volunteers, a United Way of Martin County program, has also planned an event to raise awareness and bring in more supplies. The public is invited to bring supplies to the “Stuff the Bus," by dropping them off at the yellow school bus parked at Super Wal-Mart on U.S.1 in Stuart from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 1.

Here are other ways the community can help:

* Plan a drive or school supplies party at your place business. Think along the lines of the way you would handle a toy drive at holiday time.

* Drop off donations at the little red schoolhouses, which are located inside five Martin County library branches (Blake, Cummings, Hoke, Hobe Sound and Morgade), and the Publix at Cove Road and U.S. 1. Other collection points are listed at www.martinvolunteers.org/schoolsupplies.

* Make a monetary contribution to the drive. This is the best way to help the most children, as Martin Volunteers can buy in bulk to stretch donations.

Payments can be made online or via mail by visiting www.martinvolunteers.org/schoolsupplies. Checks should be made payable to Martin Volunteers/School Supplies and mail to Martin Volunteers, PO Box 362, Stuart, FL  34995.

Call (772) 220-4472, ext. 232 or e-mail alalley@martinvolunteers.org for more information or to volunteer. Information about the School Supplies Drive and all Martin Volunteers projects is available at www.martinvolunteers.org.