Book bags and back to school supplies are currently being collected in downtown Shelton for the 4th Annual Back to School Book Bag and School Supply Drive.
This drive benefits abused, neglected and needy children in the Valley area.
Jennifer Czajkowski, owner of J Cuts, located at 505 Howe Avenue will be collecting supplies including book bags, book covers, crayons, color pencils, binders, small staplers, pencil sharpeners, rulers, pens, pencils, erasers, notebooks, binders, glue, crayons, calculators and other more until August 26th.
All items should be brand new.
A second drop off location includes Professional Tire, located at 20 Todd Road, Shelton (next to the A.C.T./Spooner House homeless shelter.) Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 5:00 pm and Saturdays from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm. For more information call 203 – 929-8471.
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 3rd Annual drive, held in 2009, resulted in a total of 3,570 items collected totaling approximately $6,718 in book bags and supplies. A total of 226 children were assisted.
At the time, these children were being serviced by TEAM, Inc. of Shelton, the Shelton School Readiness Program, 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.
“Donors providing new bags and supplies help these challenged children build their 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 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 Czajkowski. “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 these 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 currently 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, TEAM, Inc. of Shelton and others non-profit organizations depending on the success of the drive.
Donations will be accepted from individuals, as well as groups. Area corporations are encouraged to hold their own collections to join in.
For more information, call J Cuts at 203 – 924-4107.
