×

Wishes on Wheels gives needy students tools for success

EDITOR:

Families in Delta County that needed some assistance buying school supplies and backpacks for last week’s return to the classroom got some help from the community through the annual Wishes on Wheels project. Area businesses, Kix Country Radio, GFWC-Escanaba Woman’s Club and generous donors contributed to the success of the drive that aims to provide all children with “the tools for success.” The annual end-of-summer drive distributes backpacks filled with school supplies at the opening of school, and collects cash donations that allow GFWC to purchase additional supplies during the year.

The project, signaled by an Escanaba Area Public Schools bus in the Walgreens parking lot, was initiated almost a decade ago by Kix Country radio. This year GFWC volunteers staffed collection stations at the Walgreens, Walmart and Meijer’s stores. PM School on Stephenson Avenue and Positively! the Center for Success on Ludington Street, as well as the Delta Plaza Mall, served as drop off points for cash and supplies. GFWC vice-president Tracy Mayville, one of the coordinators of the drive, thanks all who participated. “We appreciate the clients, staff and customers who donated so generously at all of the participating business. They made this year our most successful so far. Because of their caring, we are able to help more kids than ever. Positively! and PM School, formerly Paul Mitchell the School, have partnered with us for several years. We only have collection stations staffed by volunteers for two days, but both of those businesses collect on our behalf for almost the entire month of August. We are also grateful to Harbor Lights Church for allowing us to use a room in their church to store and sort supplies.”

GFWC Treasurer Nancy Larche, who does most of the shopping for items not received during the drive, is grateful to cash donors, as well. “A scientific calculator, which is needed in some high school classes, can easily be $100. The zippered binders that are required in the upper elementary and high schools are also expensive. Families with several children can be hit pretty hard by the basic supply lists.”

School social workers allocate backpacks and age appropriate supplies according to need. Backpacks are also available throughout the school year to children who enter the abuse shelter and to children who come into schools in Delta County midyear. Parents who want more information about the availability of supplies can contact their child’s school social worker.

Thank you, too, to the members who volunteered and to the school social workers, who choose backpacks with great care and deep concern for individual children.

This project brings out the best in our community.

Darolyn Spannuth

GFWC-Escanaba Woman’s Club President

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today