(Seguin) – Ensuring that kids go back to school with all that they need takes shape this weekend as a new organization steps in to also help.
Communities In Schools of South-Central Texas will hold its annual Pack the Bus school supply drive on Saturday, August 6th. This year, the organization that supports Seguin ISD schools will be branching out its Bulverde, Schertz and New Braunfels efforts by collecting donations at Seguin’s HEB.
As a community service, CIS officials say they provide new school supplies to thousands of students throughout the school year. Each year, the demand for this program becomes greater with the growth of the communities they serve. They say CIS needs help to ensure that every child in the community walks into their classrooms prepared and confident.
Now because the Seguin and Geronimo communities already have a tradition in place to assist kids, Chris Douglas, CEO of Communities in Schools, says their efforts will only be a contribution to a community wide effort. She says they hope to utilize the connection with HEB to help collect even more supplies for area students.
“Communities in Schools has been doing a school supply drive for more than 27 years in the areas that we serve and we also have a partnership with HEB so that HEB allows us to be there and do what we call Pack the Bus for students’ school supplies and we never had participated at the Seguin HEB before because we knew that the Lions Club and all the people that helped them have done such a fantastic job of getting supplies for students in the Seguin ISD because we have never wanted to step on their toes. So, what we decided to do this year because HEB is our partner, is to be able to be there at the store but everything we raise there — all the supplies that are given to us are going to the Lions Club so they can give those out with their supply drive to the students and families that they have worked with for years in the way that they do it,” said Douglas. “So, we will be there. We want everyone to know the name Communities in Schools because we ask the community for help in other ways but we are just there to support the Lions Club in getting these school supplies that we will turn over to them.”
Due to the changes in the schools supplies’ lists, CIS is hoping donors focus on a few particular items when they donate. That list includes wide ruled composition books, primary composition books, plastic folders w/brads and pockets, new reusable water bottles, 1”, 1 1/2” & 2” binders, large backpacks, earbuds, headphones, stylus, low-odor dry erase markers, highlighters, divider tabs, washable markers, metal scissors – blunt and pointed, colored (map) pencils, pencil bags and boxes.
CIS staff, alumni, board members and volunteers throughout the day on Saturday will be collecting outside of the HEBs in each of its respective communities including Seguin.
Supplies and monetary donations will be accepted. Those unable to donate on Saturday may also drop off their supplies this week locally at Gift & Gourmet and the Seguin McQueeney Volunteer Fire Department.
Those traditional efforts in Seguin to help send kids back to school with the supplies they need will also be in full force this Saturday at the Plaza Del Rey Shopping Center located on East Court Street.
The Geronimo Lions Club will be collecting school supplies and monetary donations for both Seguin and Navarro ISD students from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Getting kids ready for the classroom will also be the name of the game this weekend at the Seguin Wave Pool. The city of Seguin will not only be distributing backpacks and school supplies but will be hosting free haircuts, snow cones, chips and information regarding other family services that Seguin officers. The event is free and will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday. Several drop off boxes to donate school supplies are available at various city offices. They include the Utility Billing Office at Seguin City Hall or anytime (24/7) at the Seguin Police Department Lobby.
Monetary donations can also be made in the form of cash or checks. Checks should be written out to the Seguin Police Department with the mentioned memo, Back to School.