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Schools

School Supplies Drives Aid Local Students

A number of organizations around the area are asking for donations of school supplies for families who would not otherwise be able to obtain them.

Students in eastern Baltimore County who might have missed out on the opportunity to receive new school supplies and clothes will now start their 2011-2012 school year on the right track thanks to several local businesses and nonprofit organizations.

That's because Patapsco Bank, the Preston Mitchum Jr. Foundation and the Essex-Middle River-Chase Lions Club, in partnership with CCBC-Essex, have all organized drives to support local families unable to afford the supplies on their children's lists.

"Patapsco Bank has been working with us for many years," said Rebecca Foster, shelter director for the Family Crisis Center of Baltimore County.

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The center takes in individuals and their children who have had to leave their homes as a result of domestic violence.

Foster said the bank works with customers to gather school supplies for children in the center's Free Emergency Safe Shelter.

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She said, "Customers at Patapsco Bank have been wonderful. They've helped us for so many years with this. It's so nice that we can depend upon them to help.

"These children leave their homes with their moms," said Foster, explaining they often lack financial support once they have left. "It's horrible to have to start the new school year with either old things or nothing."

In addition to school supplies, donors can also give gift certificates so the children can get new school clothing, said Foster, who explained the shelter hopes to have supplies just before the school year begins, although the campaign is ongoing.

"People are always welcome to assist all year long," said the shelter director. "If we don't use it today, we'll use it tomorrow."

The Boys and Girls Club in Middle River is receiving generous support from donors as well.

The Preston Mitchum Jr. Foundation offered support to the organization for the last four or five years with its Back to School Campaign, said WMAR news videographer/journalist Preston Mitchum, the foundation's founder and president.

"We start every year around mid-July and go until August 26," Mitchum said. "This is the eighth year of the Back to School Campaign. We've helped out about 2,000 kids in Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Harford County."

Mitchum started his foundation in 2002, identifying the need from his news coverage. According to the foundation website, its mission "is dedicated to addressing the crippling effects of poverty and violence on at-risk youth in our society."

To help accomplish this mission, Mitchum said the foundation is "looking for any type of school supply—backpacks, binders, pencils, clothing—from kindergarten to high school," as well as gift cards to Target and Walmart.

"Every year, to be honest, we're always in desperate need of backpacks," Mitchum said. "We want to be sure every kid gets a backpack with supplies inside."

He said people tend to go for the smaller, less-expensive items for donations. A decent backpack, said Mitchum, can be purchased for around $10.

He said donors can find a list at pmjfoundation.org of 10 to 15 businesses where they can drop off items for donation to the Back to School Campaign. "Or they can just mail a monetary donation, and we'll purchase the items," said Mitchum.

Monetary donations may be sent to P.O. Box 20301, Baltimore, MD 21284.

Additionally, individuals interested in donating school supplies to students through the Essex-Middle River-Chase Lions Club, which is working with CCBC-Essex, can drop off items at any of the following locations: the in Essex, Walmart on Carroll Island Road, First Mariner Bank on Carroll Island Road, or Restaurant in Essex.

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