Members of the Clinton Fire Department spend a morning packing school supplies, loading the fire truck, and delivering them to Clinton schools. (Submitted photo)
Since Thursday, July 9, volunteers from all over Anderson County have been sorting donated school supplies for Oak Ridge and Anderson County schools, packing them in bags and backpacks that are loaded into vehicles and distributing the packed items to classrooms.
Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties has been coordinating the collection, packing, and distribution of school supplies for 26 years. As a result, teachers aren’t obliged to spend their hard-earned money on items needed by their growing number of students from disadvantaged families.
Last year. ADFAC provided school supplies to more than 2,500 area students from disadvantaged families. This year, the local nonprofit service organization’s staff hopes to increase the number of school supplies by 12 percent with the help of ongoing support from the community.
In Anderson County, Clinton, and Oak Ridge, more than 6,600 students, or more than half of all students, live at or below 185 percent of the poverty level, qualifying them for the federal free- or reduced-lunch program.
“For these families, providing school supplies is a real hardship,” said Liz Herbes, social services director with ADFAC. “They often have to choose among buying food and medicine, paying rent and utility bills, or getting their children the necessary supplies for school.”
Since 1989, ADFAC’s School Supplies Program has served more than 20,000 disadvantaged students in 29 schools in Anderson County, including the Clinton and Oak Ridge city school systems.
Regarding the 2,534 students helped in 2014, Becky Hook, ADFAC’s school supply coordinator, said: “Although we are proud of this accomplishment, we provided school supplies to only 38 percent of the students who could have benefited from this program. We thank those who have been assisting us in reaching our goal of helping 2,800 students this year.”
The schools identify students eligible for the donated supplies based on the free- or reduced-lunch program. They work closely with ADFAC to provide supply lists and determine distribution methods and dates.
The agency purchases the appropriate supplies in bulk during summer months when prices are lowest. ADFAC’s School Supplies Program relies on funds from generous individuals and organizations, as well as grants from private and corporate foundations.
More than 200 volunteers from churches, clubs, and businesses are helping ADFAC staff organize and pack supplies and distribute them to the schools through July 31. School starts August 3 in Oak Ridge and the rest of the county.
The groups of volunteers helping ADFAC with school supplies are Second Baptist Church of Clinton’s Women’s Group, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Norris Lions Club, Clinton Fire Department, C&J Wealth Management, Anna’s Book Club (First Presbyterian Church), Linden PTO, Williams Small Group from Faith Promise Church, UCOR, First United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church, Oak Valley Church’s Senior Adult Ministry, Altrusa, Oak Ridge Sunset Rotary Club, Willow Brook School staff and parents, Oak Ridge Utility District, Powell Clinch Utility District, and Moms in Prayer.
How can you help?
“A $50 donation will provide a backpack and necessary school supplies for one student,” Herbes said.
Monetary donations can be made by PayPal (with “school supplies” on the “purpose” line) on the www.adfac.org website or by making out a check to ADFAC with “for school supplies” written on it. Please mail your check to ADFAC School Supplies, P.O. Box 5953, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-5953.
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Women from Second Baptist Church of Clinton fill bags with school supplies for elementary school children. (Submitted photo)
