Amanda Burns, director of Campaigns and Volunteers at Butler County United Way, said her agency looks for issues in the community that need to be addressed, and they found that mid-year school supplies are an unmet need in Butler County.
“Teachers tend to go out and have to go out and buy a bunch of school supplies for their classrooms and for their students,” said Burns, the sister of two teachers. “The bookbags and everything are great at the beginning of the year, but a lot of times, about half-way, the crayons have been depleted and the bookbags have holes. It’s just a way to make sure the students are successful for the second half of the school year.”
They created the “New Year Full Backpacks” drive that runs from Jan. 6 to Jan. 30.
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
Ebony Brock, executive director at the BTW Center on South Front Street in Hamilton, said this unmet need is something many people don’t see.
“I have a seat where I can see things other people don’t,” said Brock, who has many students from Hamilton schools at BTW after school. “I see the kids come in sometimes and they may have limited to access to certain things. And just by conversation, you ask, ‘What are you needing?’”
The needs range from notebooks to writing utensils to flash drives. Some need new backpacks because their bags are developing frays and holes.
“I think it speaks to having intentional relationships and collaborating with educators,” Brock said.
Physical donations can be dropped off either at the Booker T. Washington Center, 1140 S. Front St., Hamilton, or the Butler County United Way, 323 N. Third St., Hamilton. They can also take monetary donations through the Butler County United Way website through the “Give” button.
Burns also said they created an Amazon Wishlist for this project.
Butler County United Way is working with working with Butler County Project Success as all school districts in the county are connect through that program, except for Ross Local Schools. However, Burns said the United Way will work directly with Ross Local Schools.
“We try to step in when we see an issue in the community, and so this is one of the many ways we’re doing that,” Burns said.
The success of this collection will determine the next steps in how to address the annual school supply needs of teachers and students. Brock and Burns said the hope is to continue this as an annual event.
“As long as kids are in school, they are going to need supplies,” Brock said.
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