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Communities in Schools

More than half of Rowan-Salisbury School System students are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches, says Communities in Schools. And that means more than 10,000 are underprivileged and could start the school year in August without the supplies they need.

That’s why Communities in Schools teams up with community and corporate partners every year to collect school supplies for those children. Those collections take place throughout August at sites around Rowan.

Having school supplies available helps underprivileged children feel equal to other students starting school, Communities in Schools said in a press release. When students have the tools they need to succeed in school, the press release said, they want to be there, they want to work and they are able to succeed.

“Every child deserves to start the school year with the tools they need,” said Vickey Slusser, executive director of Communities in Schools of Rowan County. “The school supply collections that Communities In Schools of Rowan County heads up is just one way for everyone in our community to come together and help our children, our future, our county.”

Among the companies and organizations partnering with Communities in Schools

are the Salisbury Post, WSOC TV, the Gerry Wood Auto Group, the Kannapolis Intimidators, Miller Davis, Staples, the U.S. Postal Service and First Baptist Church of Salisbury.

“We see ourselves as a community church, and with so many children and families in need especially this year, we cannot be innocent bystanders,” said Rod Kerr, First Baptist’s minister of education. “Our ministry has always been to reach out in compassion to those who need to know that there are those who care whether the need is physical, emotional, mental or spiritual.”

Kerr said collecting school supplies for needy students “is a way that every member in our churches can be involved — from families going together to the store to purchase supplies to classes giving money and, yes, even putting on plays."

There are many ways to help. Communities in Schools suggests that people who don’t have children can pick up some supplies for a needy child, and as people are shopping for their children or grandchildren, they can buy a little extra.

Those who don’t like to shop but still want to make a donation can go online to www.wsoctv.com/school-tools/index.html and designate their donations to Communities in Schools of Rowan County.

Aug. 6-8 is a tax-free weekend for buying school supplies across North Carolina.

School supplies will be distributed 9 a.m.-noon Aug. 21 at the former YMCA gymnasium across from First Baptist Church on North Fulton Street.

Parents must be present with children to receive supplies.

Here’s a lineup of the planned collections:

Pencils for Pupils

Sponsored by the Salisbury Post, this goes on throughout August. Barrel sites are:

• Salisbury Post

• Biscuitville

• First Bank

• The Garden Greenhouses

• F&M Bank locations

• Sam’s Car Wash

School Tools

Sponsored by WSOC TV, this also goes through August. Collection sites are:

• BB&T, 508 Jake Alexander Blvd. W.

• First Baptist Church-Salisbury, 223 N. Fulton St.

• Creative Teaching Aids, 310 S. Main St.

• Paint and Floor Center, 1021 Old W. Innes St.

• Rowan-Salisbury School System, Ellis Street

• Trinity Oaks, 728 Klumac Road

• O’Charley’s, 123 N. Arlington St.

• Godley’s Garden Center and Nursery, 2281 Statesville Blvd.

• Rowan Visitors Bureau, 204 E. Innes Street

• Rowan Regional Medical Center

Postal Collection Day

On Aug. 21, leave items at your mailbox and a postal carrier will pick them up and deliver them to Communities In Schools

Intimidators

At its Aug. 28 game, the team will give free admission to anyone bringing school supplies. The first pitch is at 7:05 p.m.

Gerry Wood

The Gerry Wood Auto Group, 525 Jake Alexander Blvd S., is sponsoring this program throughout August at its Honda, Kia and Chrysler group dealerships.

Bring school supplies and get a free car wash between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. every Saturday in August at Gerry Wood Kia. For more information, go to www.behindthewheelmagazine.com.

Singled Out

First Baptist’s Singled Out program will sponsor “Cram the Ram” events. They are:

• Indoor yard sale, 6- 8 p.m. Aug. 6, in the old YMCA building across from the church at 223 N. Fulton Street.

• Indoor yard sale, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 7, in the old YMCA building.

• Star Search Comes to Mayberry, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m., in the church Fellowship Hall, North Fulton Street. Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children under 10. Part of the proceeds will go to Communities in Schools for supplies.

Call 704-633-0431 for tickets and log on to www.fbcsalisbury.org for information.

Brick Street Live

• During the Aug. 19 edition of the concert series on Fisher Street, the first 25 people who bring a school backpack or supplies get in free courtesy of Miller Davis Agency. The concert is 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• Donate school supplies at the Gerry Wood display for a koozie and entry into Guitar Hero for a chance to win a flat screen TV.

Do Something 101

Staples on Faith Road will host a collection site until September.

The store will also sell window stickers and give all the proceeds to Communities in Schools in a gift card to purchase supplies

Trolley Works

The Salisbury-Spencer Trolley Works will give free trolley rides Aug. 7 at First Baptist Church on North Fulton Street to people who donate school supplies.

For more information on how you can help or volunteer with Communities in Schools, call 704-797-0210 or e-mail cisrowan@gmail.com