Ready Kids for School will distribute school supplies to area children in need from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14, at Jefferson County Fair Park.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this will be a drive-through event. Attendees are asked to enter through the north parking lot.
There is no need to come early, as there are enough school supplies for each child, organizers said.
“There will not be school supplies available after the distribution on Aug. 14th, so you need to make sure that you pick up your school supplies on Saturday,” said Maria Dabel.
In its 19th year, Ready Kids for School has as its mission to “give all children the tools they need to start the school year and help them to a bright future through education.”
It serves all needy students attending any school district in Jefferson County, as well as homeschooled children and teens.
It also is designed to help families that are experiencing hardships, are unemployed or who are enrolled in any government program.
“We have found that the need has been steady. We never know from year to year what the need will be,” Dabel said.
Last year, the program helped 760 youngsters, bringing the overall total estimate from throughout its nearly two decades to about 3,999.
“Our program is in its 19th year,” Dabel said. “It is hard to believe that we have kept it going for so long.”
Ready Kids for School began in 2002 with the assistance of Dave Matoon.
“He is no longer with us, but we wish to honor him by keeping this program going for many more years to come,” Dabel said.
She noted that last year, the program did not hold a regular school supply distribution due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, it contacted school districts throughout Jefferson County and, with their assistance, was able to provide students with the supplies they needed.
With the pandemic still in play, the drive-through program was planned for this year.
“We are hoping that the drive-through does not lead to long delays,” Dabel said. “We ask for your patience as we go through this process.”
Persons in need of school supplies should register at the Workforce Development Center, 874 Collins Road, Jefferson. Those participating in any government program may register with their case manager at Jefferson County Human Services, 1541 Annex Road, Jefferson.
Meanwhile, Dabel said that monetary donations always are needed to support Ready Kids for School.
“This past year, we have experienced a definite drop in monetary donations due to the pandemic and because … we think the public wasn’t sure if the Ready Kids for School Program was still out there.” Dabel said. “We have, for many years, relied on our community and businesses to help us support our mission.
“We have been very lucky for the help and generosity of so many who believe in us.”
Thus, Ready Kids for School — a 501-c tax-exempt organization — is seeking donations for next year’s distribution.
“We start planning for the following year immediately after our distribution week,” Dabel explained. “We go through our inventory and go from there. We start buying school supplies and even order some online.”
The program is run by 10 to 12 committee members,” she said.
“We also rely on many volunteers from this wonderful community on the day of distribution,” Dabel said. “We would like to thank them ahead of time for their time and their loyalty year after year.
“Our committee strongly believes in our children and we want to empower them in any way that we can,” she concluded. “As they say, ‘our children are our future.’”
File photo/Kim McDarison
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