State Farm holding school supply drive through Aug. 6
When you are shopping for your own kids, or just walking through a store, consider buying a school supply or two for Ray Hair’s school supply drive, going on now through Aug. 6.
There’s a drop-off slot in the door of Hair’s State Farm insurance store, or you could stop in from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, to give your donations.
Office Manager Vicki Brown is spearheading the event.
“Along with having 23 years experience with State Farm, I’m a parent of a student at Bayshore Elementary. Budgets are being cut, the economy is down which makes our resources very limited,” she said.
“We are asking the community to come together and donate any school supplies to our office,” she said. “We do not want to have any child left behind.”
The Ray Hair State Farm agency is located at 90 Pine Island Rd., # A, in North Fort Myers.
The agency started the drive July 6, and has already received donations.
The effort is part of what the parent company calls a “Gulf Coast Agent Drive.” In Lee County, those who will benefit include The Foundation of Lee County Public Schools, Nations Association Charities and Lehigh Community Services.
In Charlotte County it is The Charlotte Local Education Foundation.
In Collier County it’s The Education Foundation of Collier County and the NAACP of Collier County.
“State Farm is committed to leading the way in making a difference in our communities, our children and our future. State Farm encourages our agents and claims partners to spend time during their business hours to provide assistance in schools and to contribute to the educational process in their communities,” said State Farm spokesman Jose Soto.
“In our Back to School Drive, we are encouraging our State Farm associates to donate school supplies in an effort to help prepare less fortunate children for success in school,” Soto said. “We strongly believe that students who are well prepared for school have a much better chance of success than those who go to school unprepared and lacking essential school supplies.”
“We’re already getting a good response to the drive,” Hair said.
“We also encourage people to come in and do a review of their current coverages to see if they are adequately covered,” he said,
The following supplies are needed for children ages 5 to 17:
1) Backpacks
2) Paper, folders, binders, pens, pencils, pencil boxes, markers, crayons
3) Erasers, rulers, compasses, calculators
4) Lunch boxes
5) Clothing / school uniforms, shoes, socks, underwear
6) New or used books
7) Gift certificates to office supply stores, Wal-Mart, Target and other stores.
All your donated school supplies and gift certificates will be given to needy families and children in our community. For information, call 995-0202.