Local businesses gearing up for school

Local businesses in Havre are hosting back-to-school fundraisers and events, and are accepting donations to provide supplies for local students during the upcoming school year of 2019-20.

For the third year in a row, Tom Lafond State Farm of Havre will be accepting school supplies starting Aug. 1 clear through to the end of the month.

“We take any and all school supply donations,” State Farm Manager Angela Twombly said. “Pens, pencils, markers, crayons, paper, notebook, hand sanitizer, Kleenex, wipes, erasers, backpacks, etcetera.”

Twombly said that, in the past, they have been able to pass on their received donations to St. Jude Thaddeus School, all three Havre elementary schools, plus the middle school.

Tom Lafond State Farm is located at 145 4th Ave. and will accept donations during regular business hours.

The Salvation Army is also asking for donations from the Havre community. Social Services Director Trina Crawford said in a press release Salvation Army is looking for specific supplies to pass on to Havre students.

Supplies needed are:

• 4 oz. and 8 oz. white school glue

• glue sticks

• 3-pack-highlighters

• colored pencils

• No. 2 pencils

• 24 CT crayons

• washable cone-tip markers

• small washable markers

• watercolors

• wide-ruled paper

• 1-subject wide-ruled notebooks

• college-ruled paper

• 1-subject college ruled notebooks

• 3-ring binders ­­— 1-inch and 1 ½-inch

• 2-pocket folders (need 6 different colors)

• eraser caps

• pink erasers

• pencil sharpeners

• blunt scissors

• pointed student scissors

• protractors

• 17-inch and/or 18-inch backpacks

• boxes of tissues

• antibacterial wipes

• large plastic pencil box

• zippered pencil pouches

• composition notebooks.

Donations and supplies can be dropped off either at the Emergency Service office located at 328 Third St. or The Salvation Army Thrift Store at 322 Third St.

Crawford said to bring supplies and backpacks to the designated dropoff by Aug. 22.

The Salvation Army is also participating in the Back to School Bash Saturday, Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Patterson Park.

The annual Back to School Bash focuses on providing not only backpacks and school supplies, but also free haircuts, carnival games and a free lunch.

Back to School Bash Chair Christy Edmonds heads the event and said the purpose of the bash is “to supply Havre students with the supplies needed to have a successful beginning of the school year.”

Edmonds said parents and guardians need to bring a photo ID for themselves, provide either a birth certificate or social security card for the children signing up, proof of residency and proof of income.

She added the event will also host ventriloquist Bob Vandesandt and a live band who will perform for the students and their families.

“New this year (is that) Havre Walmart is providing various free items and volunteers and has funded an amazing grant,” Edmonds said. “Emily Morse from Salon Beneath the Streets and Mary Brown from the Golden Belle Salon both provide free haircuts for children, and Havre Assembly of God and Set Free Ministries help in various ways along with many individual volunteers.”