By LINN ANN HUNTINGTON
Special to Hays Post
Youngsters may be enjoying the lazy, hazy days of summer. But the staff at First Call for Help of Ellis County is busy collecting supplies for backpacks.
Each year since 1996, First Call has provided a free backpack to any Ellis County child who needs one. The only requirement is the child must live in and go to school in Ellis County, said Laura Shoaff of First Call, who coordinates the Backpacks for Kids drive each year.
This includes children who attend public schools, private schools, and who are home-schooled, Shoaff said. Parents have until Tuesday, July 29, to register their child.
“We encourage them to register to guarantee a backpack with appropriate supplies for their child’s grade level and a hygiene bag,” Shoaff said. “I’m always amazed at the number of people who show up the first week of school and have no supplies.”
Parents may register their child by going to firstcallelliscounty.com and clicking on Backpacks for Kids, or they may call Shoaff at 785-623-2800. Flyers were distributed before the end of school, and parents may fill those out and either return them to First Call, 607 E. 13th, or mail them in, she said.
Backpack distribution will be at a new location this year. Distribution for registered children will take place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at the Hays Recreation Center, 1105 Canterbury Dr. Families are encouraged to park in the back and use the back entrance, Shoaff said.
Any remaining backpacks will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis the following day, Friday, Aug. 8, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the same location. Shoaff said First Call will be filling 650 backpacks this year.
First Call staff and volunteers stuff the backpacks with supplies specific for that child’s school and grade level as determined by lists that the teachers provide, Shoaff said.
Hygiene bags contain a full-size bottle of shampoo, a bar of soap, and a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss—the latter three items provided by Delta Dental. Third grade students and older also receive deodorant.
Women Who Lead, a philanthropic group in Ellis County, is providing “Blossom Bags” containing feminine hygiene products that will be available for girls to pick up on distribution day.
On Wednesday, July 16, employees of Nex-Tech and Nex-Tech Wireless and First Call staff will be handing out lists of needed supplies to shoppers at Walmart from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and collecting supplies as shoppers leave
Collection jars for monetary donations are located at Cerv’s, 27th and Vine; Walgreens; and the Taco Shop, 333 W. Eighth St.
Supply collection boxes are located at 14 churches in Hays and two in Ellis, Shoaff said. Each box contains a list of needed school supplies; that list is also on the First Call website and is at the bottom of this article. Boxes will be picked up from the 16 churches on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 8 and 9.
Individuals are also welcome to deliver supplies directly to the First Call Office, 607 E. 13th, or mail in checks to the same address and put Backpacks for Kids in the memo line.
Shoaff said First Call has enough volunteers from area businesses and organizations to come in and pack the backpacks. But she does need help on the distribution days, Aug. 7 and 8, when lines can get long, she said. Those wanting to volunteer may call her at 785-623-2800.
The following organizations will have booths at the distribution days: Boys and Girls Scouts, Early Childhood Connections, K-State Extension Office, and the Hays Public Library will have its bookmobile on-site.
Shoaff said Backpacks for Kids is a year-round project. “Even if we should have enough supplies for this year, we will pack for next year. We pack year-round.”
All donated supplies must be new.
Supplies needed for backpacks this year are:
• 3x3-inch Post-It Sticky Notes (any color)
• New backpacks, size medium and large
• Highlighters and dry erase markers
• Plastic school boxes/pencil bags
• Notebook paper, wide-ruled and college-ruled
• 4-oz. Elmer’s School Glue
• Large pink erasers
• 10-pack Crayola Washable Markers (classic colors)
• Pointed scissors
• 12-pack colored pencils
• 24-pack Crayola Crayons
• Two-pocket folders
• #2-lead pencils (yellow)
• Pens (blue, black, or red ink)
• One-subject spiral notebooks (wide and college ruled)
• Hard-sided 1” three-ring binders
• Glue sticks (no gel)
• Tab index divider pages
• Composition notebooks
• Combination locks
• Earbuds or small headphones
• Boxes of facial tissue
• Graph paper