How to help 100s of local kids start school with a backpack stuffed with supplies
Organizers of this year’s Operation Backpack hope to send more than 430 students at six Beaufort and Jasper county elementary schools to the first day of school with a backpack full of school supplies.
Women United of the United Way of the Lowcountry is coordinating the collection effort, which in addition to classroom supplies aims to help some families out with school uniforms.
The team is working with guidance counselors and social workers to identify children needing supplies at Hardeeville Elementary, Red Cedar Elementary, Ridgeland Elementary, Shanklin Elementary, St. Helena Elementary and Whale Branch Elementary, according to a United Way news release.
They are collecting supplies through July 29, 2016. Here’s what is needed:
- Pocket folders (2 pockets)
- Crayola washable markers
- #2 pencils (box of 12 count)
- Pencil bag (with 3 holes to fit into binder)
- Pencil sharpener
- Ruler (12 inch, clear if possible)
- Scissors (5 inch)
- Ear buds
- Glue sticks
- Composition notebook (marble)
- Index cards
- Three ring binder (1 inch or 1 1/2 inch)
- Highlighter (yellow)
- Dividers for binders
- Hand sanitizer
- Box of facial tissue
- Backpack (standard size, NOT wheeled)
- Gift cards (Old Navy and Walmart, to purchase uniform shirts)
Gift cards and checks should be mailed to United Way of the Lowcountry, P.O. Box 202, Beaufort, SC 29901.
Make checks out to United Way of the Lowcountry with "Operation Backpack" in the memo.
Donation boxes have been placed at the following locations:
▪ Beaufort Fire Station, 135 Ribaut Road, Beaufort
▪ Beaufort Jasper Water & Sewer Authority, 6 Snake Road, Okatie
▪ Lowcountry Insurance, 80 Lady's Island Drive, Lady's Island
▪ United Way of the Lowcountry offices:
— Beaufort: 2266 Boundary Street
— Bluffton: 10 Buckingham Plantation Drive, Suite D
— Ridgeland: 1509 Grays Highway
▪ Walmart, 350 Robert Smalls Parkway, Beaufort
More information: uwlowcountry.org, or contact Jaime Dailey-Vergara, jdaileyvergara@uwlowcountry.org, 843.982.3040.
This story was originally published July 10, 2016 at 3:10 PM with the headline "How to help 100s of local kids start school with a backpack stuffed with supplies."