Schools
School Supply Drive for Needy Kids Starting Early
Organizers hope that starting the collection several weeks before the start of class will let donors take advantage of back-to school sales.
Starting Friday, the and the will be teaming up to collect school supplies for area students in need.
The groups will distribute the supplies to students who otherwise could not afford basic school supplies before school resumes in August.
This is the fourth year for the school supply drive, said Pat Cork, a food pantry volunteer. Last year, between 250 and 300 students were given a majority of the supplies on their back-to-school lists, Cork said.
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Plain backpacks, pencils, pens, spiral notebooks, crayons, erasers and Kleenex are among the items that appear on the lists across all grade levels, Cork said.
Dry erase markers, highlighters, colored pencils and washable markers are among the items that appear on most grade level lists, but of which the pantry never seems to receive enough, she said.
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Five locations in Plainfield have been set up as drop-off donations to make it convenient for those who want to give. Locations include:
- Friendship Baptist Church, 15801 S. Route 59, Plainfield. Deliveries should be taken to the back door at the east side of the church. Ring the bell for entry. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
- Plainfield Area Interfaith Food Pantry, 22525 W. Lockport St., Plainfield. Office hours vary, but the outer door is always open.
- , 16108 S. Route 59, Plainfield. Drop-offs will be accepted during business hours.
- , 15629 S. Route 59, Plainfield. Donations can be dropped off in the commons area.
- , 23856 W. Andrew Road, Suite 104, Plainfield. Donations can be dropped off during business hours.
The school supply collection drive will take place from Friday until Aug. 12, and monetary donations are always accepted. Checks can be made out to Friendship Baptist Church or to the Plainfield Food Pantry with "Plainfield School District School Supply Drive" noted in the memo.
Cork said that by getting the information out early, she hopes area residents will advantage of back-to-school sales while helping students in need. About 150 to 200 families frequent the food pantry on a regular basis, and will need help to get ready for the start of school, she said.
