It's almost time for kids to pack their bookbags and get on the bus
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The Tools for School program helped put parents' minds at ease by making the process of buying supplies a little easier.
Taking place on Saturday at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, both students at Lafayette and Tippecanoe School Corporations had the opportunity to pick from a range of supplies. This included bookbags, pencil boxes, notebooks, and much more.
"We know that this can cause a lot of stress for parents around this time of year because school supplies are expensive and they just keep getting more expensive. We want to make sure that everybody has what they need to start the school year off right," said Briton Weise, Director of Social Services at the Salvation Army.
The program has been ongoing for several years, recognizing the need to help students feel better prepared as they head back to class.
Weise said it's encouraging to see the amount of donations that comes in.
"A lot of fundraising this year to make sure that we had enough supplies. Last year we had a huge demand and we wanted to make sure that we came back this year with enough to go around," Weise said.
Both the Salvation Army and non-profit organizations work to host the event. One of the non-profit organizations includes Big Brothers Big Sisters, which matches young kids between the ages of five and 15 with a mentor. The program is free and offers support to children and families.
"They need the support for their children. And maybe it's in a time where their not able to provide that additional support themselves," said Rebekah Ferney, Marketing Operation Specialist. "We have a lot of littles that come back as they've grown to be a big in their life, or have continued the relationship past 18 because of the impact it's made."
A lot of conversation at the event geared towards the impact of having programs like Tools for School. The line to get into the Colosseum wrapped around the building.
The new officer at the Salvation Army's Lafayette location, Major Marlys Anderson, said the amount of support and volunteers on Saturday speaks volume.
"It makes a difference in the lives of people, because it's a need. We're meeting the need of the community and that's why we will continue to do these kinds of things.
Anderson just moved to Lafayette this summer to start her position, working within the Salvation Army for over 30 years.
"I've been around for 30 some years and I'm seeing this as one of the biggest I've seen in the Salvation Army. It's a blessing to see and I'm just happy to be a part of it," Anderson said.
For those who were unable to attend the Tools for School event, Briton Weise said to reach out to the Salvation Army for more information on any left over school supplies.
