School Supply Drive Enters 10th Year; Need Greater than Ever

As summer comes to an end, many students look forward to the happy ritual of back-to-school shopping. For children whose families are struggling to provide the basic necessities, though, the added expense of school supplies may be beyond their means.  Recent economic challenges, including the cost of gasoline, are stressing more families than ever before.

This is the 10th consecutive year that the Federal Way Public Schools (FWPS) Business Services staff has mounted a drive to collect school supplies for children whose families can’t provide them.  Employees, businesses and the community at large team up to help students who otherwise may not get much-needed school supplies.

This year’s school supply drive is starting later than normal, and the need is bigger than ever.  Donations of supplies or monetary donations can be taken to the ESC, 31405 – 18th Ave. South, Federal Way, during regular business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.  The FWPS Annex at 1711 South Commons (on the Sears end of the mall) will also accept donations from 10 a.m. – noon and 1-4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Cash donations are encouraged, as they will allow the purchase of specific supplies at a quantity discount price. Checks for cash donations should be made out to SOS – Supply Our Students. This is a tax-deductible donation to a trust fund established to provide supplies to needy students in the Federal Way School District.

On Saturday, August 30, shoppers can donate money or supplies at the Federal Way Super Wal-Mart, 34520-16th Ave. South, Federal Way.   School district staff will have a table at the store from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

For those who prefer to do the shopping themselves, some of the most needed items are:

• Binders
• Water color paints
• Scissors – 5” pointed (i.e. Fiskars)
• Boxes of colored pencils
• Sets of colored markers, sharp point and wide point
• Wide ruled and college ruled notebook paper
• Spiral notebooks, wide ruled and college ruled
• Back packs

August 25, 2008