For the 10th year in a row, Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference is collecting backpacks and needed school supplies to help local students in need start the year off on the right foot. The community can join in the effort by dropping off supply donations at locations throughout the region or at the “Stuff the Bus” event on July 14, shopping the Hands4Hope Amazon wish list, or contributing financially. This effort is organized and led by Hands4Hope youth participants.
The National Retail Federation estimates that the average American family will spend close to $850 on school supplies and back to school clothing this year; $59 more than last year. The school supplies collected during this drive are essential to offset these costs for local families who are struggling financially. There is an anticipated increase in need this year, so Hands4Hope is working to collect backpacks and supplies for 700 students before their distribution event in early August.
Donations needed include: new backpacks, paper, composition books, colored pencils, mechanical pencils, ink pens, glue sticks, crayons, markers, rulers, calculators, ring binders, sharpies, highlighters, scissors, dry erase markers, pocket folders, and packs of 3x5 notecards.
Supply donations are being collected through Friday, July 21, and may be dropped in Hands4Hope blue collection barrels located at more than a dozen locations from Folsom through Placerville, including: Folsom Lake Bowl, the El Dorado Hills Library, Lyon Real Estate in Cameron Park, and Thompson Family of Dealerships in Placerville.
A complete list of items needed and drop off locations can be found on the Hands4Hope website.
Additionally, donations can be brought to the exciting “Stuff the Bus” event on Friday, July 14 at the El Dorado Hills Town Center, near Target. Both youth and adult volunteers are also needed to make this event a success. Volunteer registration and more event information is also available on the Hands4Hope website.
Hands4Hope also offers donors the option of skipping going to the store by shopping directly from an Amazon wish list, and is also accepting financial donations to purchase supplies that are needed most.
The Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference School Supply Drive Committee is youth led with the help of adult mentors. This year's committee is composed of 6 subcommittee chairs, 11 participants and 2 staff mentors, all led by a Hands4Hope alumni/college intern. The committee's goal is to ensure that all students have what they need to be successful in the 23/24 school year. The committee develops advertising, markets for, and hosts the School Supply Drive. It collects and distributes all donated supplies to the Placerville Union School District in conjunction with the El Dorado County Office of Education.