Register children in need for school supplies

School supplies will help children in need start school prepared to learn

Geauga County Job and Family Services offers event to help children start school prepared to learn.

Geauga County Job and Family Services is now accepting registrations for the Help Me Learn Program.

Each year, Geauga County JFS sponsors the Help Me Learn program to help children in need throughout Geauga County with school supplies for the upcoming school year. The program is supported solely from donations and community support.

“Because we recognize the importance of children beginning the school year prepared, Geauga JFS is delighted to sponsor our 12th annual, Help Me Learn Day, a fun and worthwhile school supply distribution program that assists low income children in Geauga County,” said Community Support Coordinator Sara Shininger.

Last year, Help Me Learn Day served over 515 kids throughout Geauga County.

In order to participate, families must pre-register and demonstrate a financial need to qualify, she said

There will be two separate Help Me Learn Days. The first will be on Aug. 10 at Geauga County JFS, 12480 Ravenwood Drive in Chardon, and the second at Chagrin Falls Park Community Center, 7060 Woodland Ave. in Bainbridge Township on Aug. 14.

Children and their parents are invited to JFS or Chagrin Falls Park where volunteers will help the children “shop” for their school supplies.

“I want kids to feel like they are going shopping,” Shininger said in a previous interview. “I don’t want it to just be a handout.” In addition to offering school supplies, JFS will again partner with Morning Star Friends Church, La Barberia Institute of Hair, and Marci MondelloKing of Marci’s Hair on the Square to provide free school clothing and haircuts for children, according to the news release.

The clothing and haircuts on Aug. 10 will be given at Morning Star Friends Church, 12550 Ravenna Road in Chardon. Vouchers from JFS are required to participate.

Anyone who would like more information about donating, volunteering to set up or pass out school supplies or registering for the event, contact Shininger at 440-285-9141, ext. 1263. Registrations can also be completed by visiting JFS.

The deadline for registering is Aug. 8.

TAWANA ROBERTS — THE NEWS-HERALD FILE Geauga County Jobs and Family Services distributed school supplies to students in need for Help Me Learn Day.