Editorial: Giving a little to help families prepare for the school year

As tax-free weekend and new school year approaches, there are many things the community can do to assist students and teachers in preparation to make the upcoming year successful.

In both Charles City and New Kent, there are several teachers who come out of their pockets to support the students by purchasing supplies. These educators have a passion to teach, but they enjoy the students even more. Spending my early years in the educational field, I can attest that I have come out of my pocket on several occasions to make sure students had supplies they needed.

However, we must remember that some families aren’t as privileged as others. There are families with multiple children and simply can’t afford all the supplies on the list that schools request students have before entering through the doors in September. But that is when the community has stepped up.

There are several businesses and civic organizations that have supplied students with some of the needs. But as the requirements of education evolve, so does the need for more items for the student. It is a daunting task, but there are people who put an effort into giving these students what they need.

The classroom is a place where students shouldn’t have to worry about having the right supplies or being at a disadvantage because they don’t have what they need. The students in Charles City and New Kent are intelligent and they are our future. The educators who step up to provide for less fortunate students are heroes with big hearts. The businesses and civic organizations who have bags of supplies for the pupils are outlets for families.

There are several ways and opportunities to help not only the students, but the teachers as well when it comes to getting a student in need some supplies. If you are planning to do back-to-school shopping within the upcoming weeks, if you have some spare change, purchase a couple of extra items. A pack of pencils runs roughly around one dollar and a small folder cost about ten cents. I call that “ashtray” money as that’s where I keep my spare change. If you can do it, take it to a local school and just say this is something for a kid in need. The teachers will definitely use it.

I plan to get some supplies for students within the week. I may not be rich and flowing with money, but my heart is tied to these communities. Success is reaped when contributions are invested into the future, and that’s what I am planning to do and I hope you all join me.