Locals push school supply drive

School is set to begin in just weeks, and some people are organizing supply drives to help needy children alleviate the burden of meeting supply demands.

Simone Smith started a school supply drive with her former State Farm co-workers last year. The community response was overwhelming, she said, and she was able to to give to all the schools in the area. She practically cleared out the school supply aisle at Walmart last year, she said.

This year Smith is working at Duchscher Insurance, where she has enlisted the help of her new co-workers for a similar school drive.

Smith said last year that she was prompted to action after seeing a little girl in the Walmart checkout line last year whose father couldn’t buy her the necessary supplies. The pair had to leave several items at the checkout desk.

“She was so sad,” Smith said.

Like the drive last year, Smith said she hopes this year will be equally successful.

If, however, this year’s drive brings fewer supplies, she said, she will get in touch with teachers in the area and prioritize. Smith said elementary students are already priority because their school supply list is generally longer.

Havre Public School Assistant Superintendent Craig Mueller said there are needy students in all grade levels and drives like Smith’s certainly help out.

“We’re thankful to those who are willing to give to the students,” Mueller said.

Needed supplies include smaller basic items like notebooks, markers, pencils, glue sticks, paper, crayons, erasers and folders. Other items people can contribute are calculators, backpacks and blocks. And, if people would like, they can also donate gift cards or cash, Smith said, adding she would just do the shopping herself.

People who want to donate can drop items off at Duchscher Insurance at 39 First Street.