School Supply Drive Underway In Bergen County: How You Can Help

A volunteer organization in Bergen County is hosting a Tools for Schools drive from now until Aug. 26. where local businesses can donate school supplies to Bergen County students.

Business Volunteer Connect, BVC, focuses on ways for businesses to get involved in volunteer work and give back to the community.

There are hundreds of children from low-income families who don’t have access to new school supplies each year.

Sometimes a back to school trip to Staples can cost over $100. For many families, or for homeless children or those in foster care, expensive back to school sprees are just not possible.

“It’s hard to imagine as a parent, having to tell your children that we don’t have the funds to go school shopping. But this is the reality for many families in Bergen County” said Erica West, Director of Corporate Engagement at the Bergen Volunteer Center. “Attending class without the required materials is anxiety provoking for children and it sends a message that their education isn’t valued.”

Employee volunteers will collect the school supplies from each business and drop them off at various non-profit organizations, such as Bergen Volunteer Center, Children’s Aid and Family Services, Youth Consultation Services, and Center for Food Action.

“I believe as a community we are responsible for ensuring every child feels their success is not only possible but important. By providing basic school supplies to these students, they have one less obstacle in their way of succeeding in school,” West said.

Contact West at the Bergen Volunteer Center at (201) 489-9454 if your business wishes to contribute to the Tools for Schools drive.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.