Supplies pour in for Gilchrist County students

A poor economy did not stop area residents from donating a mountain of school supplies to students in need in Gilchrist County.
For the second year in a row, the Gilchrist County Journal has asked its readers to donate school supplies to a collection box set up in the front of the newspaper office, which is located at 207 North Main Street in Trenton.

“In early July we asked our readers to imagine trying to do a school assignment without having a pencil to write with,” explained Carrie Mizell, associate editor. “We know that each school year, area teachers spend hundreds of dollars of their own money to ensure students have the tools they need to get a good education and we felt led to step up and help them.”
At press time on Tuesday, 28 reams of notebook paper, 54 notebooks, 32 paper folders, 676 pencils, 28 pink erasers, 46 boxes of crayons and numerous other school supplies had been donated.
The collection will continue through Thursday, Aug.13. The following day the supplies will be evenly distributed between Trenton Elementary School, Bell Elementary School, Trenton Middle-High School and Bell Middle-High School.
The supplies will be taken to the guidance counselor’s office at each school, where they will be made available to students in need beginning Monday, Aug. 17, which is the first day of school. Students who need school supplies should go to the guidance counselor’s office at the school he/she is enrolled at and ask for the supplies that are needed.
“Collecting school supplies is tremendous, especially during this economy,” said John M. Ayers, editor of the Gilchrist County Journal. “There are families in this area who are struggling to put food on the table, much less buy school supplies.”
School supply lists are available at each of the county’s four schools.