At a time when many parents are worried about providing their children with the necessary supplies to start the school year, the Kent Rotary club is doing its part to help out at two elementary schools in Kent.<\/p>\n
This past Monday, Kay Cook, a member and past president of Kent Rotary, delivered 30 boxes of pencils, pens, notebooks and crayons to Kent Elementary and Neely-O\u2019Brien Elementary, all bought by Rotary members to make sure students had what they when classes begin.<\/p>\n
It is the third year Cook has led the project.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was so awesome,\u201d Cook said of this year\u2019s haul, which nearly doubled last year\u2019s donation of 16 boxes.<\/p>\n
Cook said beginning in July, she would go through the Sunday newspaper advertisements and find the best deal on school supplies. Cook, an accounting consultant, would then make a spreadsheet to e-mail to the other members of the Rotary, informing them of where the best deals on school supplies were located.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then they went out and bought,\u201d Cook said, adding that members only bought items that were on sale. \u201cWe have a blast doing it. It\u2019s kind of like a scavenger hunt for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Cook, who collects, sorts and labels the supplies, watching for sales over several months allowed Rotary members to save huge amounts of money. Cook said her figures indicate that the Rotary was able to purchase approximately $1,500 worth of school supplies for the low price of $300.<\/p>\n
Cook said she believes nearly every one of the club\u2019s 60 members contributed to the mountain of supplies.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody steps in and gets something,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a really great way for some of our newer members to be involved quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cook said she started looking into school supplies several years ago because of the high rates of reduced and free lunch at the two elementary schools.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey need a little help to get started,\u201d Cook said, adding that the troubled economy has made it even more difficult for some parents. \u201cThis year, the need is so much higher.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cook also said one the reasons she began the program was because some teachers were buying supplies out-of-pocket for students.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d rather see the teacher use their money for enhanced-program stuff, not pencils and paper,\u201d Cook said.<\/p>\n
Kent Elementary Principal Sherilyn Ulland said the donated supplies means a lot to her school, which has a free and reduced lunch rate approaching 70 percent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen they arrive at school, many of them can\u2019t afford school supplies,\u201d Ulland said.<\/p>\n
Ulland said the school\u2019s family advocate would make sure the supplies went to students who needed them and added it can be embarrassing and distracting for students who do not have the proper supplies for the start of the year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt gives them a fresh start to know they have the supplies,\u201d she said. \u201cThe amount of supplies the Rotary brought in has really helped us get the school year started on the right note.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cook said the program would continue \u201cif I have anything to say about it\u201d and urged others to buy supplies for their local elementary school.<\/p>\n
\u201cGive up a latte a week and go buy some supplies,\u201d she said. \u201cIt makes a difference to those kids.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow can you not support that?\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
But Cook admits the benefits are not only to the students she and the rest of Rotary will help. Even though she knows she will never see those 30 boxes of supplies be handed out or used, Cook said knowing the kids who need them will get their pencils and notebooks is very rewarding.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is like the best feel-good anyone can imagine,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Contact Brian Beckley at 253-872-6600 ext. 5054 or bbeckley@kentreporter.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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