The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Students get ready for school
Lower-income families aided by community during back-to-school season
Area students going back to school in a few weeks will be ready from head-to-toe, thanks to community support.
Geauga County Job and Family Services in Claridon Township recently held its annual back-to-school event.
Community Support Coordinator Sara Shininger has organized “Help Me Learn Day” for 11 years.
“It is designed for lower-income students in Geauga,” she said. “All the supplies come from
donations. Some people bring in supplies and others give monetary donations. The event has definitely grown.”
Families must meet eligibility requirements and register in advance.
Shininger said last year there were about 600 registered children.
“I want kids to feel like they are going shopping,” she said. “I don’t want it to just be a handout.”
On Aug. 8, the children were given large shopping bags and the opportunity to select which supplies they needed.
Volunteers were present to assist the students with getting the supplies that were on their school supply lists.
“Our agency and our county really believes in paying it forward,” Geauga County Job and Family Services Director Craig Swenson said while assisting students at the event.
Job and Family Services also collaborated with Morning Star Friends Church in Munson Township and local barbers to provide student gently used clothing and free haircuts.
“It’s a real community effort,” Shininger said. “It has just really evolved.”
After families received supplies, they were given a voucher to take to the Morning Star Friends Church for clothing.
Outreach Coordinator Mariann Goodwin said the church has hosted the Clothes Closet for several years and it just made sense to partner with JFS and hold the event on the same day.
In addition to clothing, the children received new socks and gift cards to buy underwear.
Also at the church were more than 20 local barbers and hairstylists, including Marcie King, owner of Marci’s Hair of the Square in Chardon, and La Barberia Institute of Hair of Mayfield Heights to style and cut children’s hair at no charge.
Geauga Public Library also was present to offer library cards, books and other small gifts.
Similar to Help Me Learn Day, a Back-to-School Bash that was recently held at Harvey High School in Painesville delivered much-needed services to children and families in Lake County.
The event, co-sponsored with Lake County Job and Family Services, along with support from the Salvation Army, in addition to many other contributors, distributes clothing Meanwhile, Glenda Terrell organized the Wickliffe Forever Foundation school supply drive to help both the students and teachers.
“Many students start the first week of school with book bags overflowing with supplies and some don’t,” Terrell said. “The first goal of the drive is to support students in need to start the school year with the tools needed to participate in every learning opportunity available to them in our schools. The second goal is to support students and teachers long after the back-to-school sales are forgotten and the school supplies inventory at the stores are gone.”
Therefore, this supply drive comes in handy when all the supplies run out in the middle of the year.
“To create a list of the most needed supplies throughout the year, we asked representatives at Wickliffe Elementary School and Wickliffe Middle School to tell us,” she said. “Knowing that not everyone has time to shop, we sought out matching sponsors willing to match the supplies collected. We have $200 in matching funds available. We welcome matching sponsors as well as donated supplies.”
Wickliffe Forever Foundation is accepting donations through Aug. 31 at 2nd Semester Consignment Shop in Wickliffe, Wickliffe Community Center and Wickliffe Public Library.
Cuyahoga County children also will get access to needed supplies and services prior to going back to school.
The Euclid/Hillcrest Family to Family Collaborative is holding a backto school rally from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 11.
The free event will be held at the Euclid Family YMCA Pavilion. It will feature games, activities, resources and refreshments.
Book bags filled with supplies will be distributed on a first-come, firstserve basis.
Registration is required. Families can register by calling 216-731-7454.
Most Lake, Geauga and Cuyahoga students will resume classes mid- to late August.