The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
BACK-TO-SCHOOL HELP
Oneida Office Supply provides backpacks, supplies to students in need
ONEIDA, N.Y. » With school days fast approaching, the Oneida Office Supply is helping children in need get prepared for class.
It can be expensive to buy everything a student needs for school, store manager Stacy Jones said. For one student, it can range from $20 to $40 to purchase everything the school requests; binders, notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, markers, highlighters, paper, hand sanitizer, tissues and more. And the total price can vary with the grade. So when local children need a hand, Jones takes the request to heart.
“A little girl called us and asked if we could help her and her family,” Jones said. “It really got to us and we wanted to help. We assured her that before school started, she and her siblings would have school supplies.”
This little girl had six other siblings and when getting the
“We understand that some parents can’t afford everything the school is asking for.”
— Stacy Jones, store manager
supplies together, Jones said the total cost was around $250.
“We understand that some parents can’t afford everything the school is asking for,” Jones said.
Jones reached out to the Oneida community on Facebook and asked if anyone would be willing to help and donate to support children in need of school supplies; the outpouring of support was great, Jones said. From Bush Chiropractic who said they’d take care of these seven children to Jones’s own cousin who wanted to do everything they could.
Every little bit helps, Jones said. But if anyone wants to help, all Jones said they had to do was donate $10. And with that, they’ll help as many children as they can.
When Jones took the role of store manager, she knew she wanted to help local teachers and students after working at Seneca Street Elementary School for eight years.
The Oneida Office Supply started the Prize-a-PaLoo-Za last year as a way to recognize special teachers for their hard work and dedication while also helping children. Reaching out to local businesses, Jones asked them to donate what they could to prize baskets; gift certificates, food items or whatever else they could. Jones then encouraged those who came in to buy school supplies to nominate a teacher and give them a chance to win a basket.
Any teacher that came in and bought their school supplies here could nominate themselves or another teacher for the Prizea-Pa-Loo-Za. Anyone else could pay a dollar to nominate a special teacher. The first prize basket goes to the teacher with the most nominations and the second prize basket is done through a randomdrawing.
Oneida Office Supply doesn’t make a profit off the gift baskets. All the money fromnominations is taken and invested in buying more school supplies for students.
Employee Alison Baker said the Oneida Office Supply also helps parents make shopping simpler. They do this by reaching out to local schools and getting the school’s supply list. From there, all parents have to do is call the store and tell them what school their child goes to and what class they’re in. Oneida Office Supply packs up everything needed and all that’s needed is for the parent to come in and pick it up.
Just last year, Oneida Office Supply helped around 12 children get their school shopping lists filled. And this year, it’s looking like it could be more.
“Catholic Charities and Liberty Resources reached out to us and asked if they could send children our way who may not qualify for school supplies on their end,” Jones said. “When I give a backpack, I send the name of the child their way so we don’t duplicate. Oneida Rotary Club also reached out and asked if they could set up a table at the City Center Market and collect donations.”
Jones said she has 48 backpacks ready for children, 24 for boys and 24 for girls, and when they come in, they’ll be able to pick out the one they like.
Baker has worked at the Oneida Office Supply for six years, since before Nancy Kinney purchased the store. In the time she has known Jones, Baker said she has tried to help the community in every way she can.
“She tries to bring everything together and help everyone,” Baker said. “It helps formthat strong community bond in our city.”
“The more I can do for children and teachers, the better,” Jones said.
Those looking to help can stop by the Oneida Office Supply on 226 Main St. and nominate a local teacher they think deserves a prize. Oneida Office Supply is also accepting monetary donations and the Oneida Rotary will be at the City Center Market on Thursday, Aug. 23 accepting donations on behalf of Oneida Office Supply. Those looking to donate online can so through Oneida Office Supply’s PayPal at 226officesurplus@gmail.com