The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
School supply drive receives large response
Some members of the community responded in a large way when they donated school supplies.
Some members of the community responded in a large way when they donated school supplies to children who reside at the Genesis House Lorain County Safe Harbor, according to advocates.
Laura Hite, aftercare program coordinator at Genesis House, 3575 Elyria Ave. in Lorain, which dedicated to helping domestic violence survivors, went to social media to request school supplies for students in need.
Hite said she was blown away with the collaborative effort to collect supplies.
Elyria resident Leigh Ann Arroyo and Oven 51 Bakery teamed up to accept the donations.
Patrons donated pencils, notebooks, book bags, tissues and Zip-lock bags.
Organizers also accepted fund toward supplies and school clothes.
Donations were collected from Arroyo and Oven 51 employees from July 21 to Aug. 4.
Arroyo said the donation drive raised about $2,500 worth of school supplies and almost $200 in cash.
Jennifer Migra, co-owner of Oven 51, said she and Arroyo were ecstatic to see the turnout of donations.
“Donations were above and beyond the expectations from what we thought was going to come in,” Migra said. “I’m very impressed on how the community came together and how friends and strangers donated their time and money to do this.”
Migra said the initiative was to at least collect enough for 25 students, but supplies continued to come in, passing their expectations.
She said they were happy to have received more than enough supplies because the number of students in need increased by at least 15 from the original projection.
The help provided from staff at Oven 51 and Arroyo created the biggest response Genesis House has ever seen, Hite said.
About 30 students have received supplies given directly to Genesis House, Hite said.
Because of the generosity of donors, more students will receive supplies, she said.
“These donations are humbling,” Hite said. “These supplies can help families and their children get ready for the school year.
“Some supplies needed today are (expensive), like Kleenex or zip-lock bags, so this can help people who don’t have the expendable cash.”
Organizers were overwhelmed with the community support, Arroyo said.
“It was very emotional,” she said. “I want to give a major thank you to the community for coming together. Without the community helping communities, we wouldn’t be getting anywhere.”
Patrons donated pencils, notebooks, book bags, tissues and zip-lock bags.