Remember the days when you could hardly wait for the first day of school, seeing your friends, talking about what you did during the summer, wondering who was going to be in your class, anticipating new kids your age, showing off your new clothes and new school supplies. Do you remember that one kid that stuck out because he didn’t have new clothes, didn’t talk about what he did over the summer and came to school on the first day with used or no school supplies.

With a new school year just around the corner, parents are thinking about the all of the new supplies that their kids are going to need for the school year ahead. While some kids can’t decide on the blue or black designer jeans, some parents have to choose fruits or vegetables for their kids because they can’t afford both. Unfortunately there are a growing number of children in Brandon whose parents simple do not have the means to buy even the most basic supplies needed for their children to have a successful school year.

Tools for School is a community initiative of United Way of Brandon & District, intended to make sure that all students receive the educational supplies that they need for classroom success. All children should have the opportunity to learn, and should not have to worry about standing out because they do not have their own school supplies.

We are looking for new latex free and scent free school supplies. These supplies are collected from the drop off locations, sorted, packed and sent to the schools in the division at the beginning of the school year to those children in need. The program is not limited to the K-8 schools; we collect supplies for all of the children in the Brandon School Division. In 2009 with your help, United Way, provided more than 700 backpacks filled with school supplies for the children in the Brandon School Division.

When shopping for supplies for your children, we ask that you please pick up a few extra for those children who otherwise would go to school without the proper tools. You can give a child the opportunity to learn on a level field. Our collection date for 2010 is August 1st – August 30th you can drop off supplies in the donation bins at any of the following locations; Staples, Wal-Mart, Christie’s Office Plus, STAR FM / CKLQ Radio, KX96 / 101.1 The Farm, the Canex at CFB Shilo, and United Way of Brandon & District office. For more information or to make a monetary donation to this program, please contact the United Way office at 571-8929.

The United Way and the children of Brandon thank-you.

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2009 Photos