(Posted Aug. 2, 2020)
Serving children and families in need is at the heart of H.E.L.P. House Community Outreach’s mission. One of the core services of H.E.L.P. House is to ensure that area children, especially those whose families are struggling to make ends meet, have equal access to healthy food, clothing and the necessities and opportunities that all children need to feel successful, prepared and confident.
H.E.L.P. House’s annual back-to-school outreach provides school supplies and backpacks prior to the beginning of a new school year. This year’s distribution will focus on children in grades K-8 and will be held at H.E.L.P. House on Aug. 15 from 9 a.m. to noon. Donations of school supplies and backpacks are due to H.E.L.P. House by Aug. 10.
Last year, area service organizations, including the London Kiwanis Club and Tom Fennessey Foundation, as well as many individual donors, provided more than 400 backpacks filled with school supplies to school age children in need.
Volunteers are needed to assist with setup and backpack organization on Aug. 12 from noon to 2 p.m. and on Aug. 12-13 from 6 to 8 p.m. Volunteers also are needed to help distribute backpacks and supplies on Aug. 15 from 8 a.m. to noon.
Individuals and volunteer groups can sign up for a date and time at www.signupgenius.com/go/8050949afac2ea4fb6-help2 or call H.E.L.P. House at (740) 852-1980.
Items on the donation list are No. 2 pencils, 24-count crayons, large glue sticks, washable markers, rounded and pointed scissors, large erasers, colored pencils, rulers, pocket folders, vinyl zippered pouches, spiral bound wide- and narrow-ruled notebooks, plastic supply boxes and notebook paper.
Donations of backpacks and school supplies can be dropped off on Mondays from noon to 7 p.m., Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to noon, and Saturdays from 8 to 11 a.m.
