School supplies needed for Southern Saratoga students
CLIFTON PARK — If you think it’s rough shopping for school supplies for your children, imagine having to do it when you don’t have enough money to buy everything on the list. Pencil by pencil, folder by folder, the costs add up. And if your high schooler needs a scientific calculator, the expenses quickly pass the 3-digit mark.
CAPTAIN's Brandi Miller (left) and Robin Kennedy display school supplies donated by the Shenendehowa United Methodist Church.
But for Southern Saratoga families who can’t afford everything on their supply lists, there is help. Organizations such as CAPTAIN, the Southern Saratoga YMCA and the Mechanicville Community Center are all running school supply drives. They could use everything from notebooks and tissues to people willing to escort students on shopping trips.
“We helped over 80 families — about 150 to 200 kids — last year,” Kennedy said. “We are expecting well over that this year.”
For people who want to donate their time, the Y’s Running Start program needs volunteers to take students from kindergarten to fifth grade shopping for school clothes at JC Penney in Clifton Park Center. The program takes 60-70 students to the store over two nights, so it needs 30-35 volunteers each night. Volunteers must be at least 16 and be willing to submit to background and reference checks. They will be provided funds to shop with and a shopping list from the child’s parents; Penney’s associates are willing to assistance picking out clothing.
Most volunteers go expecting to provide an impact on a child’s life, said Margaret Ramsey Boyle, who coordinates the Running Start program. But, she said, they return saying, “That kid really made an impact on my life.”
Running Start is also seeking backpack sponsors, people willing to buy a backpack and fill it with needed supplies from a list provided by the Y. It’s a good way for families to teach younger children about the value of helping others, Boyle said. It also adds a child’s input into what style of supplies a grade schooler might like, in case the parent isn’t up to date on what Nickelodeon or Disney Channel characters are in this season.
If you can’t fill an entire backpack, Running Start, CAPTAIN and the Mechanicville Area Community Services Center also accept donations of individual supplies. Some people look for bargains during the year and then bring to the school supply drives.
“We had one woman who one fall filled a backpack with everything but dictionaries because she couldn’t find them,” Boyle said. “During the school year she found them on sale, so she bought a bunch and gave them to us for next year’s drive. We have some pretty resourceful shoppers out there.”
Families in need “can then shop for supplies right here in our office starting August 26,” said Kennedy, who added people can drop office supplies starting now at the CAPTAIN office.
In Mechanicville, the biggest needs so far are highlighters, index cards, 3- and 5-subject notebooks and 1-, 1½- and 2-inch binders, said Bonnie Potter, who runs family development services at the community center.
“I recommend buying the white ones where you can slide construction paper in on the front and back,” Potter said about the binders.
The groups are thankful for churches such as Harvest Church — “Last year they donated something like 80 backpacks,” Kennedy said — and Shenendehowa United Methodist and companies such as Independent Medical for helping the drives. And, of course, all of the individuals and families who donated supplies, money and time.
“When people in the community are made aware of a need,” Kennedy said, “they are always very, very generous.”
For more information, contact:
- CAPTAIN, 5 Municipal Plaza Suite 3, Clifton Park, 371-1185
- Mechanicville Community Center, 6 South Main St., Mechanicville, 664-8322
- Southern Saratoga YMCA, 1 Wall St., Clifton Park, 371-2139
