New school supplies can help kids start the school year off right.
Thanks to donations from all over Humboldt, 36 families started the school year off right through PARTNERS Family Services Back to School Supply drive.
The drive wrapped up Sept. 1 and could not be a better welcome for the new Executive Director, Hayley Kennedy.
“The support we’ve received from the community for me was absolutely overwhelming,” Kennedy said. “It really was a nice introduction to Humboldt and the sense of giving and the sense of community that is here.”
Thirty-six families in the area registered for the service and from there, PARTNERS took the supply lists from the families to collect school supplies. This takes the pressure off families who need a little help at an expensive time of year.
“We want to make sure that when our kids are heading back to school they have everything they need to be successful in the classroom… We’re here to support our families, making sure their kids have a good access to education,” Kennedy said.
Four major Humboldt businesses delighted Kennedy by calling specifically to donate to the drive.
“For them to come in and make those phone calls and people coming into the office to say they want to help, you can’t ask for anything better,” she said.
The Humboldt Co-op provided a cash donation that helped purchase specific items that are not usually donated, like calculators and math sets.
Spotlight Sports and Corporate Wear donated 30 backpacks, while Crazed Illusionz collected at Streetfest and Curves put on their own campaign to collect donations.
Kennedy said the support PARTNERS has received is fantastic, but they are always looking for more ways to help.
“We make some donations to families outside our direct city limits but we want to make sure we are reaching more,” she said.
Last year’s goal of 20 families was exceeded with 24 families receiving help. This year’s goal of 30 families was again exceeded with 30 families helped and extra school supplies available for mid-year top ups or late registrations.
