With the start of school only a few weeks away, families all over Fannin County are gearing up for getting back to school. Most classes are set to start on Aug 27.

 

Sixeen years ago, the Fannin County Children’s Center started their first School Supply Drive. Back then, the organization was simply called CASA and they helped around fifty children that first year. Over time, the effort grew steadily, serving more students with each passing year. Along the way, the agency added additional services for children, including the Children’s Advocacy Center, Rainbow Rooms and child abuse prevention programs too. Eventually, the number of children served by the School Supply Drive leveled off somewhat, around 500-650 kids annually. For the last two years, record numbers of children have been served, thanks to generous community donations. Last year, 726 students from all over Fannin County were helped.

 

In all, the agency has given out free school supplies to more than 6,000 students in the first fifteen years of operation. Organizers expect to serve more than 700 students again this year. This effort depends on contributions from many different individuals, churches, businesses and other local organizations.

 

“We are putting out a call for help again this year,” said Sandy Barber with the Children’s Center. “Every gift is needed, no matter what size and in what way it comes. Some donors like to pick up some extra supplies when they are shopping, especially when they find good sales. Others like to leave the shopping to us and donate cash.”

 

Items needed include: notebook paper, pens, pencils, three-ring notebooks, folders with & without brads, spiral notebooks of all sizes, rulers, scissors, markers, crayons, red pens and pencils, highlighters, glue sticks and bottles, erasers, backpacks, construction paper, manilla paper, pencil boxes and bags and other supplies from area lists.

 

Sign-ups and distribution will take place at the Children’s Center at 112 West Fifth Street in Bonham on August 22, 23 and 24 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon and 2:00-5:00 p.m. Parents or other caregivers should bring the child’s social security card and some proof of need, such as Medicaid card, food stamps or paycheck stub.

 

Financial contributions can be mailed or brought to the center at 112 West Fifth Street, Bonham, TX. Checks can be made out to FCCC and should include a brief notation that the gift is for school supplies. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.

 

Donations of school supplies can be dropped off at the Children’s Center or at Family Video in Bonham. Organizers also suggest that businesses, churches or other organizations can put out collection boxes at their locations.  

“Kwik Chek corporate offices and Seven Oaks Nursing Home are two locations we already know of that have put out collection boxes,” said Barber.

 

Organizers request that contributions arrive by August 20 or earlier if at all possible.

 

For more information, call (903) 583-4339 or go to www.fanninccc.org.

 

 

Members of First Presbyterian Church of Bonham help move, organize and assemble school supplies at Fannin County Children’s Center.