World Care, KOLD News 13 and Cricket Wireless have paired with the UA this year to host Tools for Schools, a donation drive taking place Friday and Saturday.
“”It sounded like an excellent program, particularly this year, when there’s a great need,”” said Altman, UA director of outreach and community partnerships. “”Things are especially tough for public schools.””
Two drop-off sites for donations will be located near the UA’s Main Gate Square – one at the Arizona Bookstore, 825 N. Park Ave., the other in the valet parking entrance outside of Gentle Ben’s Brewery on University Boulevard.
Students, faculty and staff are invited to bring all unwanted, used or newly purchased school supplies to be given to underprivileged students at surrounding
high schools.
Altman said if people rummage through their stuff at home, she bets they can find old notebooks, pens and pencils they might
give away.
“”Hopefully, it gets a lot of support from employees and students to give back and really get campus involved,”” Altman said. “”It’s such a direct link for the UA because these are kids that will hopefully go on to be future Wildcats.””
Jane McCollum, the general manager for the Marshall Foundation, said Main Gate Square got involved because the program aligned with the foundation’s mission. The list of supplies that are needed, she said, ranges from backpacks, calculators and protractors to paper, pens and erasers.
“”In today’s economy, it’s for more and more people we don’t know about,”” she said. “”You don’t have to be someone wealthy to contribute – it can be simply a pencil and eraser.””
World Care ignited the program in late July with CARE FAIR, held at Sunnyside High School, where 9,253 children were provided with school supply packs in a two-day period, said World Care Director of Operations Pam Pfersdorf.
“”We need to start getting it out there,”” Pfersdorf said. “”A lot of people think school supplies are only necessary at certain times, but this isn’t true for those migrating from one school to another.””
Pfersdorf said she expects TUSD to see 35 percent of students changing schools this year, whether it is due to a loss of jobs or the state of the economy in general.
In the past year, the organization has seen a 12-percent increase in donations. World Care has helped more than 28,000 students get supplies for school, and Pfersdorf hopes this number will continue
to rise.
“”Teaching is the only profession where you take money out of your own pocket. They are always buying school supplies, whether it be books, maps or desks,”” Pfersdorf said. “”You have to admire that.””
