Planning is underway for the new school year, and while schools and education may look different in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, the need for school supplies, and the expense that comes along with it, never goes away. To alleviate the financial burden on families and educators, United Way of Martin County, Publix Super Markets and a collaborative of community partners started the Tools for Success program last year. The program provided 8,836 students with 190,005 school supplies saving Martin County families $54,692 in school supply costs.
This year, due to the uncertainty surrounding school openings, the goal is to provide basic supply kits for each student in elementary school. If traditional classroom learning resumes in the fall, the kits will be waiting for each student in their classroom. If alternate plans are implemented, each child will be issued supply kits to assist with virtual learning. The kits will include grade-appropriate items such as glue sticks, pencil sharpeners, paper, notebooks, crayons, pencils, colored pencils and markers.
“Students’ lives have been dramatically disrupted due to the coronavirus outbreak and while there is still considerable uncertainty about how learning will resume in the fall, one thing we know for sure is that the needs will be greater than ever,” said United Way of Martin County President and CEO Carol G. Houwaart-Diez said.
United Way of Martin County is looking to the community for both donations of school supplies and monetary support. Suggested supplies include pencils, erasers, glue sticks and gallon sized zipper bags. For more information, including an Amazon wish list, visit www.UnitedWayMartin.org/ToolsForSuccess.
Photo Caption: Volunteers Leslie Judd and Evan McCarthy sort supplies during last year’s Tools for Success program.
About United Way United Way of Martin County’s mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community. Since 1972, the United Way has been working to create long-term social change and provide support to Martin County residents by investing in programs that strive to: enhance healthy living, improve education and support financial stability.