EDITOR’S NOTE — This story has been revised to reflect the following correction:
CORRECTION — An average of 60 percent of elementary-school children in the Port Angeles School District qualified for the free and reduced lunch program last school year, said Tina Smith-O’Hara, district spokeswoman.
A story published Aug. 17 erroneously quoted her as saying 60 percent of families in the district qualified for the reduced rate.
PORT ANGELES — School supplies, haircuts, vaccinations — and a barbecue.
It sounds like a typical August for families preparing for the resumption of school classes in September, but for many struggling families, these things are out of reach, Port Angeles School District spokeswoman Tina Smith-O’Hara said Monday.
Sixty percent of elementary-school children in the district qualified for the free and reduced lunch program last school year, Smith-O’Hara said.
Families are invited to a school supply giveaway from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Jefferson Elementary School, 218 E. 12th St.
Any family in need of the services can show up, enjoy the barbecue hosted by Sodexho Food Services, get haircuts provided by The Hair School and get assistance in accessing other services that families may be able to use.
Proof of income is not required for families to participate in Saturday’s event, Smith-O’Hara said.
Supplies have been gathered by businesses and individual donors.
One of the biggest events was the Fashion Bug Fill the Bus, held last weekend.
Fashion Bug shoppers who donated school supplies to the campaign received a coupon for purchase in the store in return for donations, she said.
However, more supplies are still needed to supply students with what they need, said Lisa Lion, who coordinated the drive through Lutheran Community Services and Parent Line.
More supplies needed
Scissors, rulers, bottled glue, tab dividers, binders, backpacks, Pee-Chee folders, notebook paper, calculators and protractors are needed to complete student packages, said Lisa Lion.
Donors can drop off supplies at Port Angeles School District offices, 216 E. Fourth St.; make a donation of cash for purchase of supplies to Parent Line, 301 Lopez Ave; or host a booth at Saturday’s event to distribute supplies and/or information.
For years, supplies were targeted for elementary school children, but last year, a request for supplies for middle school students was added.
And this year, the school supply drive includes supplies for high school students, whose supply lists include college-ruled spiral notebooks and loose-leaf paper, calculators and — a new requirement for students living in the information age — writable CDs and USB flash drives.
Supplies have been gathered all summer during Stuff the Bus events and in boxes at local stores, and many people simply dropped off supplies — or cash for supplies — at the district office, Smith-O’Hara said.
Port Angeles High School essentials include three-ring binders, college-ruled loose-leaf paper, notebook dividers, pens, pencils, highlighters, spiral notebooks, writable CDs and portable USB drives.
Saturday’s event will help supply many students for the first few months of school, she said.
The 2010 Back to School Event drew more than 200 families and served 587 students, Smith-O’Hara said.
Once the current collection of supplies is exhausted, a second school supply by Olympic Medical Center will fill in the gaps for students who miss the first distribution.
OMC employees are donating to the 11th annual Olympic Medical Center school supply drive.
“Our collection has been under way for a week now,” said Graciela Harris, OMC school supply drive coordinator.
She said distribution is expected to be Monday, Sept. 5, or Tuesday, Sept. 6.
For more information, phone Smith-O’Hara at 360-457-8575.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
