School supplies sought for needy kids

When doors open for the new school year in a few weeks, not all students will show up on the first day with new backpacks filled with new supplies, such as crayons and glue, scissors and markers.

To provide children with back-to-school gear, Owens Community College's Alumni Association is conducting a Backpack to the Future community service project, and welcomes donations of new or used backpacks as well as new school supplies.

Items collected will be given to elementary schoolchildren of low-income families throughout northwest Ohio. Many low-income families can barely afford to pay their bills, and may be unable to afford school supplies.

The alumni association's goal is to ensure that children begin the school year with new educational resources, according to Kaye Koevenig, community service chairman of the alumni association.

In addition to the gently used backpacks and new backpacks, the project accepts donations of pencils, glue sticks, crayons, markers, bottles of glue, colored pencils, pink erasers, school boxes, pocket folders, composition books, and facial tissues.

Donations can be dropped off at the Office of Alumni Relations on Owens' campus in Perrysburg Township and to the Student Development Office on the Findlay-area campus.

For more information about the school supply drive or to make a donation, contact the Owens alumni relations office at 567-661-7876, 1-800-GO-OWENS, extension 7876, or alumni@owens.edu.