School supply drive-thru scheduled

Oberlin Community Services is doing its part to help Oberlin City Schools students who are in need of school supplies.

Due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Oberlin Community Services is switching to remote donations for the 2020-2021 school supply drive, according to a news release.

Rosa Gadsden, outreach coordinator for Oberlin Community Services, and Emily Murphy, marketing and development associate, are in charge of the program this year, the release said.

Gadsden said Oberlin Community Services also is accepting donations toward computers and household internet service.

Determining households that are in need of computers/internet will occur separately from the Back-To-School DriveThru, she said.

“What a child receives in their backpack is strictly based on what the Oberlin City Schools indicate is required for their grade level, and not on any individual demonstrated need,” Gadsden said.

This year, students who were registered in advance by their parent/guardian, will receive a backpack full of school supplies specific to each student’s grade.

Backpacks will be prepacked, which will allow distribution to occur while remaining socially distant, Murphy said.

The deadline for registering a student is July 31.

Parents/guardians can register either online through the Oberlin Community Services website or call Gadsen or Murphy at 440-774-6579.

Only students who are enrolled in the Oberlin City School District are eligible to register.

Monetary donations will be accepted to help off-set the cost of the school supplies through Aug. 9.

People can donate by check to Oberlin Community Services, 285 S. Professor St., Oberlin, OH 44074.

Online donations may be made by visiting oberlincommunityservices.org/back-to-school.

The Back-to-School Drive-Thru event will take place from 1:30 to 4 p.m., Aug. 13, at 240 S. Main St. in Oberlin.

Oberlin City Schools Superintendent David Hall expressed his gratitude.

“Each year, right before school starts, we know some families struggle to purchase school supplies,” Hall said.

“But this year, with the COVID-19 pandemic, more students and their families are being affected by lack of funds due to private reasons.

“We are very grateful to have an organization in our community who puts children first. We are very appreciative of Oberlin Community Services.”