May 23, 2013
Pens, paper, markers and crayons.
They'll be on back to school lists everywhere in just a few weeks.
But some kids would start the school year with an empty backpack, without programs like stuff the bus filling them up.
Lavonda Gosselin with the Adopt a School Dothan Program said, “There will be opportunities to bring school supplies to the mall and there will be a big bus.”
A big bus and a big goal.
Gosselin said, “While you're buying your owns kids stuff, just pick up a few extra and we'll put them on our bus. We'll take those items off at the end of the month of August and then we'll spread the all out and give them to all the schools.”
Parents like Sheena Anderson say they can't imagine watching their kids going without, but they can imagine it happening in this tough economy.
Anderson said,” I know how expensive it can get and with gas prices and the economy down, everyone needs a little help.”
Anita Dawkins is the director for neighborhood kids, a program that helps children of low income families get the things they need, like school supplies and uniforms.
Dawkins says when those kids go without a lot more than money comes up short.
Dawkins said, “It affects a lot of the students that do attend school without the correct materials because a lot of them get defiant letters. Then they can't participate in school and they also can't actually come in the classroom.”
That's when teachers start to feel the pinch too.
Gosselin said, “The teachers use their own resources to try to make up the slack so by doing these we can all work together
Working together to stuff the bus with materials and help pack a backpack in need.
