Seminole Mayor, Vice Mayor Collect School Supplies for Students in Need

SEMINOLE —Mayor Leslie Waters and Vice Mayor Trish Springer have joined forces to collect school supplies for area students this summer.

Donation drop-off boxes are located at Seminole City Hall, 9199 113th St. and Springer’s employer, Hartselle Insurance, which is located in the Seminole Financial Centre, 8200 113th St., #201.

Throughout her time on council, Waters has supported several community drives, including a city-wide food drive, the Sock-it to the Mayor Sock Drive for Operation Military Matters and the homeless, and the Red, White, and Blue Sparkle-Up Drive, which collected cleaning supplies and personal hygiene items for PEMHS Mental Health.

Her focus turned to school supplies several months ago during a visit to Seminole Middle School. While there, she met with Principal Dr. Michael Moss and the school’s community liaison, Michelle Alfred, to pick up socks students had collected for the Sock-it to the Mayor Sock Drive.

As she was leaving campus, she asked Moss and Alfred, “What can I do for you?”

Waters said, “One thing led to another and boom, (a list) of ‘greatest need’ school supplies was created.”

Supplies in need include three-ring binders, backpacks, dividers for binders, pencils (colored and regular), college-ruled composition notebooks, college-ruled spiral notebooks, dry erase markers, index cards with lines, Post-it notes, masking tape, rubber bands, Sharpie markers and highlighters.

“In our opinion, this type of school supply drive/community outreach is very valuable in that it is a great way to help supplement and assist families with multiple children with the expense of brand new supplies at the beginning of each year,” Waters added. “Basic school supplies provide a basic foundation for a productive learning experience. Basically, teachers, families and students benefit — a triple win!”

Springer, who has two children who attended Seminole schools, was inspired to join the project as well. She recalls not only shopping for her own children at the start of each school year, but also being recruited to help other students.

“Teachers in the beginning of the year send a wish list home to the students on what they need not only for the classroom, but also for students who are in need of just basic supplies,” she said.

She added, “Our city wants our children to be prepared for the school year. The children are our future and we want to help them to prepare to be future leaders of their own city of Seminole.”

They’re working closely with leaders at Seminole-area schools to determine what their needs are.

“We are getting feedback and trying to do our best to fulfill those wishes,” Springer said. “I would love to have a truck full of supplies for each of Seminole’s elementary schools.”

In addition to donations of supplies, monetary donations are also appreciated.

Waters said they have already received a number of donations, but there is still significant need for school supplies. She encourages local businesses and organizations to get involved in the drive.

SOURCE: tbnweekly.com