Summer is just getting started, but the Jefferson County Action Center is already collecting supplies for the coming school year.
Although the supplies won’t be distributed until Aug. 6-11, center staff start collecting supplies now so they can meet the need later on.
The annual School Supply Distribution is one of three seasonal prevention programs that the Center, 8755 W. 14th Ave., runs to help families keep their budget in check. The other two are a Thanksgiving distribution of boxes of food and Santa Shop.
“For families who are trying to keep a balanced budget, seasonal events like these can wreak havoc,” said Mag Strittmatter, executive director at the Action Center. “Instead of families having to spend money on school supplies, we help them use that money on rent and bills that need paying.”
More than 5,000 children make use of the drive, according to Amanda Slates, communications coordinator for the Action Center. The list of items needed for students include notebook paper, 3-ring binders and calculators.
“The items are bagged by age group for preschool, elementary, middle and high school students,” Strittmatter said.
People can drop off supplies at the Action Center Mondays through Saturdays. The hours on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
Monetary donations can be made online at www.actioncenterco.org, Slates said, and thanks to a new partnership with the Foundation for Excellence in Learning and Education, these online donations will be matched up to $10,000 by the Foundation. As the items start coming into the Action Center, volunteers will help sort them into the proper categories and get them organized. This event is called the School Supplies Pre-Pack, and is open to families, organizations and individuals who are looking for a way to do some good work this summer. The pre-pack will happen during the last three weeks of July.
“Individuals, companies and churches all donate and volunteer, and we love to see the engagement,” Strittmatter said.
While the supply drive is important for the parents to save money, she said, it is equally important for the children.
“It’s hard to be a kid, and when you go to school and don’t have the tools that the other kids have, it can be really hard,” she said. “It’s important for their self-esteem.”
To volunteer for the pre-pack or supply distribution, call 303-237-7704, ext. 229, or email nirad@theactioncenterco.org.