By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
Despite the rain Saturday morning parents and children stood in line to collect school materials.
The Communities in Schools of Rowan County gave away 336 book bags filled with donated school supplies.
Shyheim Brockington, 10, will start school at Koontz Elementary School.
“It’s nice,” he said.
He plans to put his new supplies in his new book bag.
“It helps a lot especially with the recession,” said Margaret Payton, Shyheim’s mother.
Donna Honeycutt of Gold Hill went with her five children to pick up school supplies.
She heard about it through Morgan Elementary School.
“It means hopefully they could have a good school year,” Honeycutt said.
Honeycutt is unemployed and said she was thankful to those who donated the supplies and made the event possible.
“Whoever is behind this, thank you,” she said.
David Williams, who said he heard about the school supplies giveaway in the newspaper, waited in line for his grandchildren.
“If someone will give you stuff I think that’s just great,” he said.
Volunteer Ebony O’Neal, a Livingston College student was invited by her sorority sister to help out.
O’Neal is an early childhood education major.
“It’s very beneficial and with Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. our organization is all about service and giving back. It’s something I hold close to my heart,” she said.
Donations will still be collected through the end of the month.
Communities in Schools Executive Director Vicky Slusser said there are other opportunities for students to receive supplies because once school starts students may still have a need.
There were quite a few people who did not arrive in time to get supplies.
The parents must inquire at their child’s school in order to receive supplies. The schools will distribute them, she said.
“I couldn’t do it without the volunteers,” Slusser said.
“It’s an opportunity for us and the people who donated to give back,” said Bob Foreman.
Foreman is a Family Service Coordinator at Knox Middle School.
Once school supplies were all given out, volunteers gave away Rack Room Shoes art kits that were donated by First Baptist of Salisbury.
Distribution of supplies collected during the School Tools Campaign will be held at the schools Thursday, Sept. 17, which is also the Rowan County United Way Day of Caring.