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Realtors helping gather school supplies |
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Wednesday, 30 July 2008 |
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By Richard Toynton BLACKFOOT — For the first time, almost one dozen businesses among the Blackfoot Association of Realtors is helping the SouthEastern Idaho Community Action Agency in its annual summertime mission to provide necessary school supplies for Bingham County students.
Colorful donation boxes have been set up at 10 business locations throughout Blackfoot, and items will also be accepted in the SEICAA office at 206 S. Spruce St.
Items needed are 1-inch binders, tissue paper, scissors, portfolios, markers and glue. The school supply drive started Monday and will last until Aug. 15.
Items that students are in great need of are backpacks, book bags and cash donations for student activity cards and class fees, Renette Loosli, Blackfoot Association of Realtors community service chairperson, said.
“The other items are easier for people to get,” she said, adding that backpacks and book bags are a lot more expensive than pencils and markers.
Loosli recommended that persons interested in donating cash write out a check to SEICAA if possible.
“As a parent, I know they cost quite a bit,” she said about school supplies. “With fuel prices so high, peoples’ budgets are probably tighter than normal.”
Participating businesses with drop off boxes are Bischoff Realtors at 432 Meridian St.; Blackfoot Real Estate at 130 S. Broadway St.; Heartland Real Estate at 70 S. Spruce St.; Home Town Realtors at 265 W. Francis St.; Idaho High plains at 601 N. Broadway St.; RE/MAX Preferred Properties at 199 W. Bridge St.; River Valley Real Estate at 950 S. University Ave.; Taylor Real Estate at 220 North Meridian St.; Town and Country at 710 W. Bridge St.; and Western Realty at 1395 Northwest Main St.
Bobette Jackson, SEICAA Bingham County program coordinator, said, “We’re happy they’re helping us. Our community is so supportive.”
With just two staff members in the SEICAA office, it’s hard to work on school supply drives even though they provide a great help to needy parents, Jackson said. “We’re so busy preparing food boxes, market salvages and paying rent.”
A market salvage is when a SEICAA staff member gets food nearing its expiration date from a local grocer. The food is then distributed to people who can’t afford food, Jackson said.
A date and location for distributing the school supplies has not been set yet, but typically the distribution is scheduled for about a week before public school begins, she said.
Parents in need of school supplies for their children are welcome to the event, but they must bring a school supplies list and show proof of their income and proof that they live in Bingham County.
The Bingham County SEICAA office staff will host an open house from noon to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 14 at their new office location at 206 S. Spruce St.
Jackson said people can learn about the variety of services SEICAA provides and see the new office. “We have plenty of room now for clothing, blankets, and everything we use—we just love it.”
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 07 August 2008 )
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