Horizon counselor helps kick off United Way’s 20th annual school supply drive
July 20, 2018
Rachel Lerum, counselor at Moorhead’s Horizon Middle School East Campus, shared her love of the first day of school and her joy in purchasing a backpack and filling it with school supplies. With the Ferris wheel behind her, Lerum helped the United Way of Cass-Clay kick off this year’s 20th annual school supply drive July 11 at Scheels in Fargo.
“I believe that every student deserves that same experience of attending school on the first day with all the supplies they need to start the year strong,” Lerum said. “Thanks to the United Way and community support, last year over 5,800 area students were able to walk into school the first day with a full backpack.”
The United Way of Cass Clay School Supply Drive runs from July 11-27. Backpacks and supplies will be distributed Aug. 4 and 7.
“Just as adults need to go to work prepared, students need to come to school equipped to learn,” Lerum said. “The school supply drive provides access to that basic school need.”
According to Lerum, the school supply drive is more than the physical backpacks and supplies.
“It instills confidence and a sense of self-worth,” she said. “Confidence is key to learning and success for young people. It’s our job as adults to instill this attitude in our students, to develop grit, to learn to dig in and to work hard.”
This year, United Way needs the community to step forward and help them equip 6,000 local students with backpacks full of school supplies. To commemorate the 20th year of the supply drive, United Way is encouraging the community to consider donating $20 to help one child be prepared for school. United Way can leverage each $20 donation to help provide a backpack and supplies for one student.
Supplies needed are:
• New backpacks (no wheels)
• Pencils
• Pencil pouches
• Crayons (24 count)
• Glue sticks
• Bottles of glue
• Wide markers (10 count)
• Narrow markers (10 count)
• Colored pencils (12 count)
• Pointed scissors
• Erasers
• Blue and black pens
• Red pens
• Highlighters
• 2-pocket folders
• Rulers
• 1” 3-ring binders
• Spiral notebooks*
• Composition notebooks*
• Loose leaf paper*
*college ruled & wide ruled
Drop off donations at any of these locations:
• FARGODOME
• All First International Bank & Trust locations
• All Gate City Bank Locations
• West Acres
Additionally, Moorhead Schools is collecting supplies in the district office at Probstfield Center for Education until 11 a.m. July 27.
Backpacks and supplies will be distributed to students and families in need on:
Saturday, August 4 from 8-11:30 a.m. at the FARGODOME
Tuesday, August 7 from 4-7 p.m. at the FARGODOME
Any K-12 student attending school in Cass or Clay County is eligible to receive a backpack and school supplies. Families must bring a form of ID for each child and one completed registration form per family to the FARGODOME. Registration forms and information for families in need is available on the United Way website.
All information about the drive can be found on the United Way website at https://www.unitedwaycassclay.org/how-we-help/prepare-children-to-succeed/school-supply-drive.
Photo: Rachel Lerum, counselor at Horizon Middle School East Campus, helps the United Way of Cass-Clay kick off the 20th annual school supply drive on July 11. This year’s goal is to collect supplies and backpacks for 6,000 local students.
Categorized under: School