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2 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Man accused of giving drugs to girl, then assaulting her ... Police: Man falsely reports murder in progress ... Our View: Importing game birds: a turkey of an idea ... Man accused of giving drugs to girl, then assaulting her ... Police: Man falsely reports murder in progress ... Our View: Importing game birds: a turkey of an idea ... Families benefit from free school supplies More than 400 children benefitted Monday from the annual effort by St. Vincent de Paul. By the time the last sack is handed over on Friday afternoon, the charity will have assisted 2,000 needy children ranging in age from kindergarten to 12th grade. Comment By SARAH LEMON MailTribune.com By SARAH LEMON Posted Aug. 14, 2007 at 12:01 AM By SARAH LEMON Posted Aug. 14, 2007 at 12:01 AM If you go --> What: Free school supplies for needy families When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today through Friday Where: St. Vincent de Paul Society, 2424 N. Pacific Highway, Medford For more information: Call 77... » Read more X If you go What: Free school supplies for needy families When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today through Friday Where: St. Vincent de Paul Society, 2424 N. Pacific Highway, Medford For more information: Call 772-3828 » Social News Sarah Sather's ninth birthday brought an unexpected gift. A pink backpack and other free school supplies at St. Vincent de Paul briefly sidetracked the family's Monday outing to pick up a celebratory cake. Unaware until the last minute that St. Vincent's annual giveaway was being held two weeks earlier than previous years, Sather's mother, Dianna, postponed other plans in favor of an event that sustains the family until spring. "We've done it almost for the last five years now," Dianna Sather said. "It's been a big help." Sather's five children took home paper bags containing pencils and paper, binders and markers, even calculators and compasses. More than 400 other children benefitted Monday from the annual effort, which started in 1990 and has grown every year, said Kathy Morgan, vice president of St. Vincent's community relations. By the time the last sack is handed over on Friday afternoon, the charity will have assisted 2,000 needy children ranging in age from kindergarten to 12th grade, Morgan said. Nearly $45,000 gleaned from St. Vincent fundraisers and community donations, coupled with a sizeable discount from the Bi-Mart store on Medford's West Main Street, purchased this year's supplies, Morgan said. Each grade-specific bag holds about $35 in items, including backpacks, said Bob Christian, event organizer. Although Sather and her husband both work, school supplies are a stretch, Sather said. And each year, the list of items no longer provided in class gets bigger, she said. "Having five kids to go to school is very expensive," she said. Last year's purchase of paints and other art supplies for her oldest daughter, 12-year-old Kimberly, put a large dent in the family's wallet, Sather said. What they don't use immediately, the White City family puts away for later in the year, but St. Vincent provides enough that paper is almost the only item that needs replenishing. Food stamp recipients such as the Sathers and Oregon Health Plan participants automatically qualify for the free school supplies. Otherwise, St. Vincent asks that families provide documentation of their income, along with personal identification and the last four digits of their child's social security number. The federal poverty level is $20,650 for a family of four. Open to all Jackson County residents living in poverty, the school-supply giveaway is in St. Vincent's remodeled Medford headquarters. The event was accelerated to avoid interrupting food distribution — held the last two Fridays of each month — and likely will fall in the middle of August from now on, Morgan said. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected]. By SARAH LEMON MailTribune.com By SARAH LEMON Posted Aug. 14, 2007 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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