Campaign collects supples for students

Community groups are coming together again this summer to gather school supplies for students in the Marysville and Lakewood school districts.

School supply donations can now be dropped off at red barrels at various Marysville organizations and businesses.

Those locations include the Marysville Salvation Army branch location at 1108 State Ave., Allen Creek Dentistry, the Marysville Community Food Bank, Marysville City Hall and Marysville locations of Staples, Fred Meyer, Big Lots, HomeStreet Bank and Heritage Bank.

Monetary donations can also be made at bit.ly/msvlschoolsupplies. Supplies can be ordered directly through registries at bit.ly/walmartmsvlregistry and bit.ly/amazonmsvlregistry as well.

“Last year the donations were really light so we’re really hoping for more donations this year, in particular backpacks which we really need,” said Christie Veley, one of the organizers of the school supply drive. “They really are the most expensive school supply on our donation list."

Other items needed include binders, notebooks, pens, pencils and lined paper.

The school supply drive is organized by the Marysville Salvation Army with other groups such as the Marysville Community Food Bank and Marysville Fire District partnering as well.

The groups have organized the drive for a number of years now.

Last year about 600 children registered to receive supplies, which was about average.

“We thought the need would possibly be way higher,” said Veley.

However, with students returning to school full-time next year the need for supplies may pick up.

“We’re anticipating a really high need this year, probably higher than last year’s need based on the registration we’ve seen so far,” said Veley.

She said that with one week of registration open they have received 200 applications.

Families who need assistance can register at bit.ly/schoolsupplieshelp, or by visiting the Marysville Salvation Army or Marysville School District websites.

Questions can be directed to Salvation Army social services coordinator Jenny Roodzant at [email protected] or at 360-926-2228.

Roodzant said she hopes to get the word out to the community this year to help increase the number of donations.

“We’re really dependent on the community hearing and coming forward,” she said.

The community groups will hold a donation drive at the Marysville Staples on July 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We’ll be down there all day and we’re doing it again in August,” said Roodzant.

The Sugar and Spoon food truck will be there and Staples will be giving discounts on school supplies during the day, she said.

Veley said the community volunteers and organizations come together to help local students.

“We do it for the kids. There’s a huge need in our community and families are struggling,” she said. “If a family is struggling a child may not get the supplies they need to be successful, and so we want to do this for them."

She appreciated everyone who supports the program.

“Thank you to the community for supporting us every year and all the businesses that will host barrels for donations,” said Veley. “We’re just grateful that everybody supports this."

Volunteers who can help collect donations, inventory supplies and fill backpacks are still needed and those who want to help can call 360-926-2228.