Book bags and back to school supplies are being collected in downtown Shelton for needy children in the Valley area during the 6th Annual Back to School Book Bag and School Supply Drive.
Jennifer Sneider, owner of J Cuts, located at 505 Howe Avenue will be collecting supplies including book bags, book covers, rulers, pens, pencils, erasers, notebooks, binders, glue, crayons, calculators, pencil sharpeners, paper and folders until August 26th. All items must be brand new.
A second collection location is Minuteman Press located at 427B Howard Avenue, Shelton. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Their phone number is 203 – 922-9228.
This drive, originally started by the owners of Luther’s Garage which is now closed, will continue on an annual basis through J Cuts.
The 5th Annual drive, held in 2011, resulted in a total of 1,570 items collected totaling approximately $3,718 in book bags and supplies. A total of 110 children were assisted.
At the time, these children were being serviced by TEAM, Inc. of Shelton, the Department of Family & Children’s Aid/Shelton Safe Home, the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley and the Covenant to Care for Children Adopt a Social Worker Program.
Once again, Vinny Cordone of Shelton, owner of Cordone Landscape & Lawn Maintenance Service was a major contributor donating 100 brand new book bags.
The Shelton Lions’ Club held their own collection and contributed 100 items to the donations. They are again joining the drive.
“Donors providing new bags and supplies help these challenged children build their confidence and self-esteem as they return to school. Otherwise, these children feel disadvantaged and different from other children. Sporting a new book bag like the other kids on the first day of school, it allows them to walk in with pride and start out feeling more positive about attending school,” says Meral Prewitt, Regional Coordinator and Team Leader of the Adopt A Social Worker Program.
“This year, we hope to double our numbers,” states Sneider. “Children sometimes don’t want to go back to school because they don’t have what other children have. This drive is very important and critical because it helps to boost their confidence.”
The majority of the children who receive supplies are in multi-problem families and struggling with myriad difficulties including, poverty, domestic violence, developmental disabilities, abuse, neglect and potential homelessness.
All donations from this drive will be distributed to many needy children who are getting ready to go back to school. These children are serviced by the Department of Children & Families/Shelton Safe Home, the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, the A.C.T./Spooner House and TEAM, Inc. of Shelton.
Donations will be accepted from individuals, as well as groups. Area corporations and organizations are encouraged to hold their own collections to join in.
For more information, call J Cuts at 203 – 924-4107.
All donations are tax deductible.
