Local business hosting school supply drive
Back-to-School Drives are common, but this year, officials from the Ray Hair State Farm Agency said it is much more important.
“We just want to help students be prepared for school, and we see this is a way to help them get off to a good start, despite the economy,” said Owner/Agent Ray Hair. “This will be our second annual drive.”
His agency is located on Pine Island Road in North Fort Myers, and now has a drop-off box for supplies for anyone who can come in and donate during office hours, and also a drop-off slot for anyone to donate after hours. The drive will go on now through the end of August.
Supplies will go to local schools, and more importantly, local children. “We work with the Lee County School Board and let them decide where the supplies are needed, but they all go to local children.”
Last year, students that benefited from the company’s drive included those at nearby J. Colin English Elementary and Bayshore Elementary, among other local school students.
“Notebooks, pencils, paper, those kinds of things are needed,” Hair said. “We’re looking for staples every student needs to go to school.”
Specifically, the following supplies are needed for children ages five to 17:
– Paper, folders, binders, pens, pencils, pencil boxes, markers, crayons
– Erasers, rulers, compasses, calculators
– Gift certificates to office supply stores, Wal-Mart, Target, and other stores
– Lunch boxes
– Backpacks
All of the donated school supplies and gift certificates will be given to needy families and children in the community, Hair said. “Support will be greatly appreciated. We enjoyed doing it last year and we’re glad we’re able to help the community this year,” he said.
His parent company of State Farm encourages what is called the “Gulf Coast Agent Drive,” which was highly successful last year.
“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, said State Farm Representative Joe Soto in a prepared statement.
The Ray Hair State Farm agency is located at 90 Pine Island Rd # A in North Fort Myers.
They are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There’s also a drop off slot in the door. For information, call 995-0202.