Small Town News

School supply drive starts

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Children are all excited when a new school year starts, and bringing a new backpack filled with school supplies is just part of the thrill.

Thanks to a group of volunteers, children in the Perkins-Tryon School district will all get to feel that excitement.

Eden Chapel United Methodist Church's "For Kids & For Community" and "Love Bear" ministries are working hard now to provide school supplies for the 2010-11 school year.

"Eden Chapel started the book bag program in July of 2009," project organizer and church outreach director Amy Petermann said.

Petermann said the goal was to provide 50 backpacks filled with school supplies to needy students.

Last summer, the group asked for financial assistance from local businesses and organizations and came up with enough funds to provide 50 book bags to Perkins-Tryon Elementary School and 20 to the intermediate school.

Providing funds for 2009-10 school year supplies were Eden Chapel UMC, the Christian Church of Perkins, the Lions Club, Payne County Bank, and Perkins Community Chamber of Commerce. Williams Foods also helped with the effort by providing special orders for the supplies at a discount.

"Last year, Williams Foods ordered glue, glue stix, dry erase markers, paper, notebooks at a significant savings over what they could be purchased for at Wal-Mart," Petermann said Petermann said the goal for the 2010-11 school year is to provide school supplies for every grade at P-T.

"We just got a $1,250 grant from the United Methodist Foundation for the book bags project," Petermann said. "We'll need a lot more money to do supplies for all grades, sc we're doing the fundraising now."

She explained Williams Food management offered tc help even more than last year if funds could be raised by summer.

Book bags will cost about $40 each, based on school supply lists provided by teachers at the beginning of the school year.

Petermann said school principals and teachers select students to receive the bags confidentially, on a need basis.

"Principals and teachers identify those who need supplies assistance and then pass the bags out," she said "Basically, we just do prep work and get them all bundled up and delivered to the school."

Elementary school principal Bobby Simma said the book bags made a huge difference to many students by providing families with needed school supplies.

Simma said, "It's a tough time for everyone; schools, too. Our resources are limited.

"I thought it was an amazing task to tackle. They gave us 50 bags - all packed and all ready. All we had to do was give them out."

Ten book bags were given to each grade level and the teachers divided them according to need.

"It's a wonderful project,"

Simma said. "I heard a lot of real positive response from the faculty. I was excited when Amy said they would try to do it again this year." Those who would like to help with the project are asked to contact Petermann.

"We'll need people in August to help shop, and stuff and deliver the book bags."

For more information, contact Petermann at (405) 613-3259, or send your cash donation to: "For Kids & For Community" c/o Eden Chapel P.O. Box 441 Perkins, OK 74059



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© 2010 The Perkins Journal Perkins, Oklahoma. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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