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For immediate
release, until August 13 – Do you remember how exciting it was each year
when you went to buy your new school supplies? You lined them up – the
pencils, crayons, the compass, the ruler, shiny new notebooks and folders. You
double-checked your list. You filled your brand new backpack, more excited than
you would admit to start the new year.
Unfortunately, for
many children in Clackamas County back-to-school is
not a happy time. Their families cannot afford the supplies they need. Or maybe
they are not with their families, but are cared for by foster parents with few
extra resources. These children, who want to be just like other kids, are instead
ashamed and embarrassed that they might be the only ones without supplies. They
find it pretty hard to be excited about school.
However, many
concerned Clackamas County volunteers will be
working this year to be sure more kids can be truly excited and proud to begin
their school year. Project Start Right volunteers hope once again to provide
more than 1000 brand new backpacks filled with appropriate school supplies to
area needy children in August.
Donations of
supplies and money from individuals, churches, businesses, and service clubs
from all over Clackamas County turn into a huge mountain of crayons, markers,
paper, pencils and the like, to be packed in new backpacks for distribution in
late August. Recipients – generally children in foster care and low
income families – are qualified and referred to the program by
caseworkers. Last year 1,000 children were served by Project Start Right.
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People may
contribute financial donations to help volunteers buy supplies in bulk or may
purchase and donate school supplies from a specific list. Highest needs
currently are 3-ring, 1’ binders, calculators, and new backpacks. For
more information, or to donate to Project Start Right, email
clackamasstartright@gmail.com, phone 503-657-2123, ext. 255, or send checks
payable to:
START
RIGHT
PO Box 952
Oregon City OR 97045
(Donations to Start Right are tax-deductible and 100% of donations are used to
purchase school supplies)
Project Start Right
has been hosted by several churches since it began in 2001, and is now led by
Prince of Life Lutheran Church of Oregon City, in partnership with the Oregon
Department of Human Services and with Love In the Name
of Christ (Love INC) of Clackamas County
Love INC is a
network of approximately 40 county churches dedicated to helping churches help
those in need. For more information on Love INC, email
info@clackamasloveinc.org or call the Love INC office at 503-655-4223.
Media contacts – for interviews: Betsy Packer, Start
Right cochair, 503-723-4407, home; 503-806-9421 cell. Lowell Gere, Start Right
cochair, 503-723-9087, home, Pauline Vordestrasse, Start Right cochair,
503-655-5620.
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