Valley Outreach Sponsors Back-to-School Supply Drive

Valley Outreach is launching a back-to-school supplies drive to help children of struggling families in the St. Croix Valley.

The nonprofit organization is seeking donations of the five most common classroom supplies:

• No. 2 pencils (12- or 24-pack)
• Glue sticks
• Spiral notebooks (wide- or college-ruled)
• Crayola brand markers (8-pack)
• Crayola brand crayons (24-pack)

This program will help kids start the school year with a sense of renewal, said Valley Outreach Executive Director Christine Tubbs.

“We are finding that the needs of struggling families are growing greater, not diminishing," Tubbs said. "Nearly 30 percent of children attending Stillwater public schools are from low-income families needing assistance. When it’s hard to put food on the table, the idea of buying pencils or crayons is beyond what some parents can manage. But there is nothing so full of promise for kids at the beginning of a school year than a fresh new set of crayons.”

Tubbs is hoping that churches and civic groups will be inspired to take on this project and solicit donations from members.

Donations can be dropped off at Valley Outreach, 1911 Curve Crest Blvd. W., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday,Wednesday and Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Valley Outreach is asking that donations be given by Aug. 14, so they can be distributed to families before school starts.

Parents can come to the Valley Outreach supply market on Monday, Aug. 19, from noon to 1 p.m. and on Tues., Aug. 20, from3 to 5 p.m. to collect a set of supplies for their children.

For more information, call Kris at 342-5558.