Back to School drive helps eligible children start year off right
By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
When students return to school this week, some children won’t have the needed supplies. But the Sharing Center of Trevor is teaming up with local businesses to make sure those needs are met.
The Sharing Center, which spent the summer collecting donations, reports the supplies are ready for pickup.
Community members with children that fall below 185 percent of the poverty line are eligible to receive the items.
“If you qualify for free or reduced lunch at school, you probably qualify for assistance from us,” a Sharing Center press release states.
The Back-to-School Drive has helped at least 200 students annually, according to Sharing Center Executive Director Sharon Pomaville. She said donations help more than a handful of school districts in Western Kenosha County.
Before the Sharing Center distributes donation boxes, however, they review school supply lists from all 12 districts in Western Kenosha County.
From there, they narrow the list to most popular items, which include backpacks, notebooks, earphones for electronic devices and scientific calculators.
While the drive targets public schools, Pomaville states the door is open for home-schooled students and children enrolled online.
The donation drive is not possible without the help of dozens of businesses, however, noting an outpouring of community support.
“This was probably our biggest turnout this year, as far as donors, for school supplies,” she stated.
Sponsors, and donors of this year’s drive were, Buttons and Bolts, Bristol and Wilmot branches of Holy Cross Catholic Parish, People’s Bank, True Value, Antioch Fine Wines and Liquors, Country Market on Highways C and 45, Paddock Lake Curves, Silver Lake Dairy Queen, Gorsuch Chiropractic of Paddock Lake.
Additionally, Home Again, Kelly’s Pub, Natural Beauty, First Christian Church, Christ Lutheran Church, Community Baptist Church, Paddock Lake Family Dollar, Mac’s Deli, Scully’s Silver Lake Grill, St. Alphonsus School, St. Ignatius of Antioch, St. John Catholic Church and Reinemann’s True Value Hardware.
Bristol House, Westosha Veterinary Hospital and Allied Plastics also pitched in.
The contributions, according to Brighton Administrative Assistant Beth Gillette, who was picking up items at the Sharing Center Monday, the drive will aid six students.
The donations give the students peace of mind, she said.
Gillette stated that while parents help, it is unknown how many are in need.
“They are a big resource. We’ve got some parents helping out, but we don’t always know,” Gillette stated. “It is kind of hard to do it after school starts.”
Gillette, however, said the most rewarding part of the process is placing a new backpack on the desk of a student in need before the bell rings.
“The kids feel so much better having things the first day of school, it makes a huge difference for them,” she said.
According to the State Department of Public Instruction, Brighton School had 186 students enrolled at the school in 2015-16.
“We are a pretty small school, so it is not drop in the bucket for us,” Gillette said.
While children benefit, school officials also see cost savings.
“We connect with each of the schools to see if they need a bulk supply of school supplies so the teachers don’t have supply them out of pocket,” Pomaville said.
As supplies are available for pickup, the Sharing Center plans to keep up with inventory, helping students throughout the year.
“We keep some of the supplies here, and offer them year-round, if they are in need,” Pomaville stated.