Kandace Giles hands out school supplies to Donna’Ann VanWagner, 5, and her sister Tori Riddley. The two sisters were among some 500 students to receive school supplies from school supply drive. Tori is drenched from standing in line in 100 degree temperature along with hundreds of others for the supplies. Brian Schoenhals/The Daily Home
SAFE Executive Director Margaret Morton said they opened the doors at 4 p.m. and were finished handing out supplies by 5:15 p.m. Supplies, including book bags, spiral notebooks, binders, paper, pencils, pens, colored pencils, crayons, folders, scissors and glue were given out on a first-come first-serve basis.
“Once again the community has risen to the occasion and provided donations of school supplies,” Morton said. “We were able to provide the children with a book bag and school supplies, although some students – high school students – did not want a book bag. The community provided us with monetary donations as well so we could give out Chamber checks.”
Chamber checks may be spent at any store that is a member of the Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce. Morton said the checks were to provide locals with funds to purchase school uniforms. The distribution was held in coordination with Sylacauga’s National Night Out.
“We felt this year was a tremendous success,” Morton said. “Yes, it was blistering hot but we had a lot of help from the Police Department helping to route traffic.”
Morton thanked Marble City Baptist Church for allowing them to use their facility. She also thanked the volunteers from Christ Point Church, Rising Star Baptist Church and First Methodist Church who spent time in front of Walmart collecting supplies. The drive was spearheaded by Taylor Logan in conjunction with the Sylacauga Promise Committee.
”It couldn’t happen without people like them,” Morton said. “We say thank you to Sylacauga once again and the community of Sylacauga for answering the call and having a service heart.”
Morton said those receiving the donations were thanking her.
“People said to me, “Please tell whoever is responsible ‘thank you.’ We wouldn’t have these things for our children if we didn’t come to this.” So it’s a blessing all the way around.”
Contact Lindsey Holland at lholland@dailyhome.com
