School Kids without Supplies

In our town, Mansfield, OH., there are kids going to school on Tuesday without pencil, paper, notebook or any of the other supplies you’d expect kids to have when they start a new school year. One school, Hedges School, where some of our members tutor all year, has been supported for years by churches and non-profits, but this year received – not LESS support – but NO support from any of the groups and institutions that usually do that.
 
My wife, Lou, and I have purchased some supplies (4th – 6th grade), and our church has begun responding since yesterday when Lou, who tutors at the school, wrote and explained the issue to our membership. We also own a small business and will be making an investment in donating supplies to the school on Monday. We won’t be able to cover everything ourselves, but we’ll SURE make a dent!
 
My issue today is that such a condition exists – in spite of the economy or any other reasons, like losing TONS of jobs in our community!  We spend a HUGE fortune on education, but when the kids don’t have paper to write on, or a pencil or pen to write with and nobody cares – how are they expected to learn and retain?
 
I do NOT believe that anyone OWES school supplies to anyone else, but I’m upset that there seems to be so little good-will or philanthropy or just plain good-doing feeling in our community these days.
 
If you want to help with this, please – contact us, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church (419-756-7536) , or Hedges School to see how YOU can help!
 
Upset and ranting….
Bill Millikin http://allsoulsohio.org