The Ellis County Press: Supplies available for low-income families

Supplies available for low-income families
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Editor on 07/31/2003 00:00:00


SHERRY LONG
The Ellis County Press
ELLIS COUNTY - As the long summer vacation winds down for teachers and students,
it's time for parents to start stocking up on notebook paper, pens, pencils,
crayons, folders and other classroom necessities.
Some parents face a monetary dilemma; buy school supplies or pay the bills.
Palmer Intermediate Principal Nancy Edwards said parents in Palmer could go to
their school's principal for assistance if they cannot afford the materials
their children need.
'We don't ever want a child to feel bad,' Edwards said 'Every school has had
these products (school supplies) divided up.'
Ferris families needing assistance can alert their school's secretary or
counselor during registration, who can assist them in getting the materials
needed for class.
'The counselor gets the resources available to help (the family),' Ingram
Elementary Counselor Pat Haley said.
'The items come from various donations from organizations throughout the city
and county.'
The Tools for School program was spear headed in 1998 by Waxahachie resident
Jennifer Thornhill.
She discovered, while volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club of Waxahachie,
most of the kids in the program did not have the necessary supplies to start the
school year.
After taking the club over a few years ago, the Salvation Army began working
with Thornhill to turn Tools for School into a yearly community outreach
program.
Parents are required to fill out an application Monday through Friday from 1-4
p.m. at the Waxahachie Salvation Army office at 620 Farley by Aug. 8 to request
assistance.
'We use the poverty guidelines from the federal government,' Salvation Army
Corps Officer Captain David Fesser said, noting the applications helped them
determine what families are eligible for the program.
Any family facing financial difficulty is eligible for the program as long as
they reside in Ellis County with school age children up to the sixth grade.
Families who apply must bring a picture id, proof of income, a utility bill
proving they live in Ellis County and social security cards belonging to
themselves or their children.
Last year the program gave out free school supplies to 300 students throughout
the Ellis County area.
Fesser said he plans they will provide supplies this year for 'at least that
many kids and possibly more.'