This August, the Salvation Army in St. Cloud will be providing backpacks and school supplies for 1,400 children. The campaign for donations has already begun.
“In 2017, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud will not be hosting a Back to School Supply Drive nor school supply distribution program,” said Steve Pareja, the agency’s executive director. “This will allow us to focus our resources on the core programs at Catholic Charities Emergency Services: our food shelf and clothing program,” he said.
According to Shannon Smithers of the Salvation Army, the supplies most in demand are backpacks (including gently-used backpacks), notebooks, pens, pencils, glue, folders and markers.
Smithers said families in need may access these school supplies by coming to the Salvation Army office and filling out a short application; distributions for backpacks and school supplies will begin in early August.
“To those who have supported this program in the past,” Pareja said, “we would ask that you support the young people in need in our community by donating school supplies to the Salvation Army and other groups who do similar work.”
To offer individual or corporate donations of supplies or cash, or to volunteer, contact Smithers at the St. Cloud Salvation Army at 320-257-7437 or shannon_smithers@usc.salvationarmy.org. Cash donations, with “School Supplies” written on the notation line, may be mailed to The Salvation Army, 400 Hwy. 10 S., St. Cloud, MN 56304.