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Major School Supply Program To Reach Thousands; Community Support Sought To Help More Children
BUTLER
COUNTY – Community donations are being sought so that thousands of Butler County children participating in free and reduced lunch school programs will receive needed school supplies in the fall of 2008.
The campaign is being sponsored for the fifth year by the Butler County School Supply Coalition, a group comprised seven organizations: the Board of Butler County Commissioners, the Butler County Department of Job and Family Services, the Princeton Pike Church of God, Supports to Encourage Low-income Families (SELF), the Butler County United Way, the United Way of Oxford, Ohio and Vicinity and The Family Resource Center in Oxford.
The Coalition raises the funds and purchases and distributes the kits. A record 7,709 children were assisted through the Coalition’s efforts at the start of the 2007 – 2008 school year. The needed school supply kits are distributed each fall through the school districts in Butler County.
The Coalition has negotiated a price of about $5.00 per child for a full school supply kit. Donations from residents and community groups are being sought to help to purchase kits.
According to fall 2007 data from the Ohio Department of Education, 17,019 children in Butler County schools are on free and reduced lunch programs due to low family income. Through unprecedented coordination with other school supply efforts and financial donations for additional school supply kits, the Coalition hopes to reach thousands of children.
“It’s tragic to think that more than 17,000 students may start school this fall already behind because they don’t have the necessary supplies,” said Jerome Kearns, assistant director, Butler County Department of Job and Family Services. “Our efforts work with the school districts in order to reach as many kids as possible and to avoid duplication with other school supply efforts.”
“One hundred percent of what is collected will be used to purchase school supply kits to help more children,” said Angie Akers of the Princeton Pike Church of God. “For as little as $5, a resident can help ensure that a child starts school this fall ready to learn. All school children, regardless of family income, deserve to be well prepared for school.”
“It’s alarming to note that about 12,000 kids were enrolled in free and reduced lunch programs when we started the coalition five years. Now that number has grown by almost 5,000,” said Jeffrey Diver, executive director of Supports to Encourage Low-income Families. “Families are feeling the pinch of rising energy prices. We must do all we can to help school children.”
Donations may be mailed to: the Butler County School Supply Coalition, P.O. Box 421545, Middletown, Ohio 45042.
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