August 11, 2005
Each year thousands of students go without the essential items needed for the beginning of their school year, making learning an even more difficult task. A few citizens are helping make that difficult task a bit easier.
It's a drive to supply nearly 4,000 students with school supplies for the upcoming school year.
The pack to school drive is supporting Charlottesville and Albemarle County grade school students who need assistance to get the essential items needed for school.
"We take so many things for granted, but there are a lot of children out there who just don't have the means to get the school supplies that others need so desperately," explained Major Bruce Smith of the Salvation Army.
Although the supply drive hasn't collected close to the number of supplies they're hoping to distribute, remains optimistic
"We're hoping things are going to come in really quickly and in large numbers as these final day go by," said Smith.
Paper, pencil, notebook, and bookbag: all essential items that students need. That's why student supply drives like this help students start the year off right.
"It's really important because it helps them to be organized, and to be focused on learning, and not to be focused on what they don't have," explained Atalaya Sergi.
Sergi is a guidance counselor at Upper Walker Elementary School and says supplying students with needed supplies helps them stay focused on the main purpose of school.
"The social things become a lot more important," said Sergi. "If they don't have the necessary supplies and the things that all the other kids have, that becomes a distraction. Not only from not getting [their] work done, but because [the students] may be slightly embarrassed."
If you are interested in helping with school supplies, you still have time. The Salvation Army is accepting supplies at their Pantops location, next to the Giant grocery store in the Pantops Shopping Center.
Supplies will be accepted until Tuesday, August 16.
"Pack 2 School" Helping Students in Need 