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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 25, 2005 Donations give school kids an edge By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune Despite the chaos of construction, St. Vincent de Paul organizers are determined to host an annual school supply drive that prepares hundreds of low-income kids for class. "This year, we’re going to be kind of crunched," said Bill Schueller, the former agency director heading the 14th annual drive. In previous years, more than 1,500 children and their families have crowded the St. Anthony homeless shelter in late August, loading up on pre-packed backpacks, pencils and notebook paper. Advertisement But the shelter was recently torn down, part of a $2.7 million renovation project that eventually will build a new shelter and other amenities. So this year, more than 30 volunteers will pack bags as families arrive for the drive, planned for Monday to Sept. 2. Families can bring proof of income from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the agency site, 2424 N. Pacific Highway, Medford. "During last year’s drive, we served 845 children on Monday alone," Schueller said. Kids come away with paper and pens, calculators and crayons, most provided at a 30 percent discount from Bi-Mart Corp., based in Eugene. Schueller believes having the right supplies can make a difference in a child’s success in school. Nationwide, parents expect to spend nearly $2.5 billion on school supplies such as notebooks, folders, pencils, backpacks and lunchboxes, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey. In the West, that amounts to an average of $84.02 per family. For those struggling to make ends meet, especially families with many children, paying for school supplies is all but impossible. The St. Vincent de Paul drive was started in 1991 by Dolores Harmon and her daughter, Lori Harmon. Since then, other community efforts have begun to help prepare children for school. A school supply drive sponsored by the Mail Tribune and several other professional groups is expected to provide more than $3,000 worth of goods to every local district, said organizer Ginnie Deason. Donations of pencils, scissors, backpacks, highlighters, tissue, notebooks, 2-inch binders, markers, glue and glue sticks can be dropped off at several area sites. Deadline is Sept. 12. Already, contributions are pouring in, Deason said. "It’s much better than last year, but at the same time, it’s just a drop in the bucket when you consider the need," she said. Other sponsors include the Ashland Daily Tidings, the Nickel, Umpqua Bank, members of the Jackson County Bar Association, Ramsey & Rote, People’s Bank of Commerce, Associates for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and the Ashland law firm of Davis, Hearn, Saladoff & Smith. Donations can be delivered to the following sites: St. Vincent de Paul, 2424 N. Pacific Highway, Medford. Call 772-3828. The Mail Tribune, 111 N. Fir St., Medford. Call 776-4441. The Daily Tidings, 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland. The Nickel, 832 Crater Lake Ave., Medford Any Umpqua Bank location. Collections will be distributed to local schools for disbursement to kids in need. Contact your child’s school for more information. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail Donations give school kids an edge ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Advertisement s