More
than 500 new backpacks, 1,700 spiral notebooks, 1,000 boxes of crayons,
and nearly 6,000 pencils are among more than $37,000 worth of school
supplies donated this year by area businesses, service organizations,
and individuals.
The
amount received is an all-time high for Communities In Schools of
Puyallup (CISP), which has partnered with the Puyallup School District
the past eight years to coordinate the drive for local students in need.
Jan
Mauk, executive director of CISP, shared the results of this year’s
record high supply drive with the Puyallup School Board in October.
Mauk gave examples of the donations that have provided students with basic supplies to achieve in school this year.
She
also introduced representatives from some of the many area businesses
and organizations that supported this year’s drive. She added that 18
community volunteers helped sort and inventory more than 23,000 school
supplies.
“Some
students come to school lacking the tools they need to be successful in
school,” Mauk told the school board. “This is just an incredible
outpouring of generosity from our community, and we are very thankful
for all of the donations.”
In
a related effort to help students in need, Mauk said Fred Meyer store
in downtown Puyallup contributed 1,174 “Bags of Love” filled with $5
worth of kid-friendly food purchased by customers. The bags are given to
students on Fridays this year to assure they have food over the
weekend.