ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Pencils…crayons…scissors…paper

Those basic school supplies may be in every drawer at work or home and we take for granted the opportunity we have to grab one whenever we need it.

However, this is not the case for every family and when school starts back up in the Fall, some children will not be able to have adequate supplies because of financial issues.

That’s where Catholic Social Services is stepping in to help out low-income families through their Project REACH (Resources for Educational Advancement of Children) program.

Michele Prockup, CSS director, is looking for sponsors to donate basic supplies or money so Baldwin County children can start the school year out with a backpack full of school supplies.

“We are making appointments now for families to come in and interview with a caseworker and see if they qualify for assistance. There is an income eligibility requirement but it open to any family in Baldwin County,” Prockup said.

Assisting K-12 students, Prockup said they will begin interviewing families July 11-28 and in some cases would be able to help with school fees for extracurricular activities, depending on the circumstances.

“We need all the basic supplies, paper, big fat pencils for kindergarten, crayons, markers, glue, scissors, anything on a school supply list, and we are always glad to accept monetary donations as well,” Prockup said.

Last year, 288 students in 17 schools were helped, with the majority of them being fifth graders, Prockup said, and this year, she hopes they will be able to help even more.

“I was able to purchase backpacks in bulk for $4 a piece so we are needing everyone in the community to bring in enough supplies to fill them up. We have several volunteers who will be coming to help pack them. We want every child to be able to start on a good footing a the beginning of the year,” Prockup said.

School counselors sometimes provide information to CSS about fee payments and Prockup said they try to accommodate those students’ needs.

“It is always the children who capture our hearts as the new school year arrives to find them ill-equipped. Immediately, these children are seen as ‘different’, dressed in makeshift uniforms and without new crayons, notebooks and other supplies. They have been denied lockers or access to special courses like art, ROTC or band because parents simply can’t afford the additional fees. For the children, it is a truly humbling experience,” Prockup explained.

Not only does CSS provide school supplies, they also provide school uniforms as well and have help from the community in outfitting students for the school year.

“The learning experience cannot take place without the necessities to enter on a level playing field. Our project reaches out to supply the child with the material resources that help intangibly, by improving self-image, attitude and acceptance,” Prockup said.

Also helping out with uniforms and schools supplies is Robertsdale United methodist Church, who has a uniform drive every summer to collect gently used, clean uniforms in all sizes.

“We helped 400 students last year from all over the county and anyone who would like to donate can drop them off at the church. We will distributing them on Tuesday, August 2 and Wednesday, August 3 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the church. Monetary donations will also be accepted as well,” said Jo Novotny, coordinator of the drive.

RUMC works with CSS in the uniform distribution and if any CSS family needs uniforms, Novotny said they are able to get them what they need.

“We try to provide one new uniform set and one used set to each child who comes to us. We see mostly central and south Baldwin students but we are open to all students from all over the county and want to help as many as we can,” Novotny said.

To volunteer to pack a backpack or make an appointment for an interview with CSS, contact Michelle at (251) 947-2293 or to make a monetary donation, mail check to: Catholic Social Services, P.O. Box 870, Robertsdale, Al 36567.

To make a donation to RUMC, contact Jo at (251) 947-4602 or mail to: Robertsdale United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 866, Robertsdale, Al 36567. Make checks payable to: School; Ministry.