Communities in Schools to collect school supplies outside HEB

Lion’s Clubs also hosting Pack the Bus event

(Seguin) – This weekend is all about ensuring students have the tools they need to be successful in the classroom.

Communities In Schools of South-Central Texas (CIS) will be hosting its annual Pack the Bus school supply drive. CIS provides new school supplies to thousands of students throughout the school year including all students in the Seguin and Marion ISDs.

Christine Watson, the marketing and events manager, says CIS staff, alumni, board members and volunteers will be at H-E-Bs in Seguin, Cibolo, Schertz and all three New Braunfels locations on Saturday to take donations of schools supplies and provide program information.

Watson says CIS, which oversees mentoring and social services for students in local schools, believes the demand for the program is even greater this year.

“I think the need increases every year and especially as things get more expensive, school supplies are probably on the list of things that are getting more expensive and so the need is definitely there and then school supplies and how schools are functioning are changing too so those needed items are different. So, the need is definitely there and it is definitely bigger than it has been,” said Watson.

Watson says not only are school supplies made available prior to the start of school but throughout the year as needed.

“Before the school year starts, if there are students that are in need, they can contact our schools and ask if they have CIS at the school or a lot of the students and parents know which schools have CIS so they can contact them and let them know what their needs are ahead of time. Our staff will be in the schools, and they can contact them and let them know what they need so they can have them on the first day of school,” said Watson.

As the schools’ supply lists have changed, so has the list of items that are most needed. This year’s list includes wide ruled composition books, primary composition books, plastic folders w/brads and pockets, new reusable water bottles, binders, large backpacks, clear backpacks, earbuds, headphones, stylus, low-odor dry erase markers, highlighters, divider tabs, washable markers, metal scissors – blunt and pointed, colored (map) pencils, pencil bags and boxes.

More importantly, Watson says donations don’t have to be from HEB nor do they have to be school supplies.

“You can drop off any donations of any supplies. Obviously whi,le you are at HEB, it’s very convenient to go and purchase the supplies there. We will have a list of the most needed items there and you can also find it on our website which is www.cis-sct.org. In Seguin, they are having the clear backpacks again (for middle and high schools only). So, I know that is definitely a need. We will be accepting cash donations there. You can go to our website to donate. That’s always great because we can take that monetary donation and go buy them in bulk and get the supplies that we are lacking from the donations that we received,” said Watson.

Also helping to Pack the Bus this weekend will be the Lions Clubs of Seguin.

Like Communities in Schools, the Pack the Bus donations will be turned over to the local schools for distribution. Donations collected on behalf of Pack the Bus will benefit both the Seguin and Navarro ISDs. Pack the Bus will be held on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Plaza Del Rey Shopping Center next door to Walgreens.