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RANDOLPH COUNTY —
They can be a fashion statement or strictly utilitarian. They can feature princesses, cartoon characters, and wacky designs. They can be big or small. They hold books, paper, pens, snacks and a host of other items that won’t fit inside a jeans pocket. They normally last only one school year and are what every student needs when school starts. They are book bags.
Communities In Schools of Randolph County (CISRC) launched its annual Fill The Bus school supply drive this week with a request specifically for book bags for area students.
Citing a recent 30 percent cut in funding from the Randolph County Commissioners, CISRC Executive Director Sandi Norman explained that in past years, the organization bought a supply of book bags.
“We receive generous quantities of paper, notebooks, and so forth from the community, but not so many book bags, probably because they are a bit more expensive," she said. "So, CISRC, in the past, has used its budgeted funds to make sure each of the students we help has a brand new book bag to start the school year off right. This year we just don’t have the funds to do that, so we are appealing to the community to help us meet the needs of these approximately 300 students.”
The book bags should be sturdy and relatively large, as most will be used by upper elementary school students. Book bags should not have wheels.
In addition to book bags, CISRC welcomes the donation of:
– 3-ring binders
– wide-ruled notebook paper
– pencils
– pens (black, blue or red ink)
– subject dividers
– colored pencils
– highlighters
– crayons
– pencil bags and pencil boxes
– composition books (one-, three-, or five-subject)
– student scissors
– 3-prong folders (any color)
– pocket folders (any color)
– erasers
– markers (thin or broad tip)
– marbled composition books
Drop off sites are:
– Randleman Chamber of Commerce, 102 W. Naomi St., Randleman
– Security Savings Bank, 204 S. Main St., Randleman
– The Randolph Guide, 431 S. Fayetteville St., Asheboro
– CVS in Randleman
The faith community is again playing a large part in helping CISRC meet this need. Norman noted that the following churches in the Archdale-Trinity area are hosting a drop-off box to collect supplies and/or adopting a school to supply individual students:
– Old Union United Methodist Church, 5077 Walker Mill Road, Sophia
– Marlboro Friends Meeting, 2668 Marlboro Church Road, Sophia
– Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church, 119 West River Drive, Randleman
“These congregations see Fill The Bus as a part of their home missions work,” Norman said. “We appreciate their generosity and could not provide the current level of support to our community without their help.”
Malt-O-Meal’s Asheboro location is hosting a box for their employees to drop off items.
CISRC also welcomes monetary donations for school supplies. These contributions can be sent to 1011 Sunset Ave., Asheboro, NC 27203. For more information, call 336-625-0008. Items will be picked up from the various locations on Aug. 16.
