Battle Ground — School’s out for the summer, but preparations for the next school year are already underway.
Organizers of the annual North County School Readiness event, now set for 4 p.m. Aug. 22 at Battle Ground High School, are looking for donations of basic school supplies and cash. The event distributes free backpacks and supplies to low-income students attending K-12 classes in the Battle Ground, Hockinson, Woodland and Green Mountain school districts. More than 750 backpacks are typically distributed at the event, which has been driven by volunteers since 2005.
According to organizers, the estimated average cost of a backpack filled with basic school supplies for one third- or fourth-grade student is between $50 and $70. Some of the beneficiaries of the North County School Readiness event are homeless or living in foster care.
All donations are tax-deductible.
People can donate online at http://www.nccfoodbank.org/donate.html; they should note that the donation is for the North County School Readiness program. They can also call the North County Community Food Bank at 360-687-5007, or send mail to the North County Community Food Bank, P.O. Box 2106, Battle Ground, WA, 98604.
Clubs, neighborhood associations, churches, businesses and other groups are encouraged to consider holding school-supply collection drives during the summer.
