Sorry, kids.
The summer will be over before we know it. As the new school year looms, class supply lists start popping up everywhere. This can cause anxiety for those on a tight budget. Thurston County has an answer in the Little Red Schoolhouse Project.
Founded in 1991, the Little Red Schoolhouse Project was established by a coalition of local social service agencies, churches, businesses, and individuals with a shared goal: to equip children with the basic supplies they need to start school with confidence. The Little Red Schoolhouse Project operates as a non-profit under the fiscal sponsorship of Family Education & Support Services (FESS).
The Little Red Schoolhouse Project has grown significantly since its inception, serving approximately 3,000 students each year. The supplies collected during this drive will be distributed to Thurston County school districts, which include Griffin, North Thurston, Olympia, Rainier, Rochester, Tenino, Tumwater, and Yelm. Students in need of supplies should contact their respective schools or districts in early September.
An amazing part of this project is that every penny received, minus any transaction fees for online contributions, will go directly to the Little Red Schoolhouse Project. There is community support from sponsors, including Spooner Berry Farms, JT Painting Co., Fast Fuel, Complete Hearing and Balance, Olympia Orthopaedic Associates, and Capital Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, and Electric.
While the sponsors help secure those supplies, there is still a need for more help. And here's our opportunity.
Friday, August 9, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., KXXO Mixx96 will be hosting RADIO DAY at its broadcast studio at the corner of State Avenue and Washington Street in Olympia. If you would like to contribute, the process is simple. Donations can be made online anytime via the station’s website at www.KXXO.com. On the day of the event, community members can drop off their contributions—whether they be calculators, smaller backpacks, or cash to purchase supplies in bulk—directly at KXXO’s studios. Volunteers will be present throughout the day to assist with donations and ensure a smooth process.
Community members looking to contribute can also make donations at various drop-off locations throughout August. These include:
Checks can be made out to the Little Red Schoolhouse and mailed to P.O. Box 6302, Olympia, WA 98507. For those wishing to donate via credit card, click here for Little Red Schoolhouse Project's payment page.
The drive's importance is underscored by the fact that basic school supplies can significantly impact a student’s academic experience and confidence. Items most in need include composition notebooks, graph paper, Fiskar scissors, Crayola crayons and colored pencils, washable markers, scientific and regular calculators, Ticonderoga pencils, rulers, Elmer’s glue sticks, and spiral notebooks (without binders).
The success of the RADIO DAY drive and the Little Red Schoolhouse Project depends on the community's generous spirit and support. By participating, individuals not only contribute to a worthwhile cause but also help ensure that every student starts the school year prepared and excited for the challenges ahead.
Zach Davis-Price is a man of many interests, especially the workings and activities of local nonprofit organizations and volunteer programs. He lives in Tumwater. Send him a note at zach@theJOLTnews.com.
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