Pens, pencils, and glue sticks, oh my
Huntsville has more school supply giveaways than it has schools -- all of them happening in the next two weeks. Meet the small army of people giving our children a great start to the school year.
Summer may not officially end until September, but don't say that to schoolkids and their parents. For them, summer ends when school starts in mid-August. It’s a time of the year that stretches pocketbooks – for new clothes, new shoes, and a new batch of school supplies.
This is financially daunting for some parents. Fortunately, a whole lot of people in Huntsville put in a whole lot of effort to help students start the new year off right. Collectively, it's one of the biggest charitable occasions of the year. Let's find out just how big it is.
The Dean's List
August will mark the 21st year that Vanetta Mills and her Community Praise Ministry have hosted a school supply drive at Huntsville Elementary. What started out serving 800 students has grown to support upwards of 1,200.
These first-come, first-served supplies rarely last past the two hour distribution window, but when they do, a second distribution day is offered. Last year, about 150 bags of supplies rolled into the next day, where they vanished almost instantly.
They say it takes a village to raise a child, and when it comes drives like these, nothing could be truer. Members of the ministry spend the whole year fundraising to support the endeavor. Mills, an administrative assistant at Huntsville Elementary, doesn’t have children herself, but that doesn’t stop her from taking care of students' needs.
She reflects, “I try to be a disciple and make sure I reach as [many] as I can. It always warms my heart to see those parents that come to tell us how much they appreciate us.”
The drive relies on volunteers from local churches, organizations at Sam Houston State University, and community members at large – some handling the organization, others handling donations or preparing the bags of supplies, still others passing them out.
Over her two decades organizing this tremendous effort, Mills has learned that “you never know another’s condition or what they need until they come and let you know how you can help them.”
You get a box of Kleenex, and you get a box of Kleenex – it's like Oprah with the cars
Huntsville ISD school supply list is broken down by campus and grade level. Almost every level has the good old standbys of composition notebooks, pencils, and folders. The lower grades require a lot more, like glue sticks, scissors, markers, and lots of crayons – upwards of three 24-count boxes for 1st graders.
Everyone needs to supply at least one box of tissues; 4th graders must bring six. The list also has some surprises, such as headphones – even for first-graders – and quart and gallon-size resealable freezer bags.
On average, parents can expect to spend about $50-$100 to fill the K-5 supply list. Though the upper grades' lists are shorter, parents can ultimately expect to pay upwards of $200, depending on their child’s classes, as some require special items.
The cost of school supplies adds up. Photo credits: Mary-Brett Stringer.
For some parents and teachers, providing these supplies can be problematic. It often falls to teachers to come up with any missing supplies. On their tight budgets, this can be draining, financially and personally. And parents pay a personal cost when they can’t give their children what they need.
Some turn to quick loans or selling personal treasures to make ends meet. “It happens. When they need money, they need money, and they come pawn things,” says Max Bhalli, owner of Cash & Gold Pawn on Sam Houston Ave. Again, it’s a village, because the supplies you send in go into the classroom closet. You’re asked not to write your name on the items.
The Honor Roll
Community Praise Ministry is only the tip of the iceberg. Many other local organizations are helping local students get ready for the new school year.
There are two other giveaways just on Aug. 1. One is at the New Waverly Library, which is hosting a school supply & clothes giveaway. The other is led by real estate company The Adam Olson Team, which aims to assemble 2,000 backpacks with supplies (links: Insta, Facebook), with drop-off locations ranging from Huntsville to the Woodlands and a Venmo QR code. Distribution takes place at the HEBs in Huntsville, Willis, and Conroe
On Aug. 5 at Huntsville Toyota, children 3 and up have the chance to get a backpack with supplies – up to four per family. Pre-registration is required. Then, on Aug. 8, "Guilty by Association" will give out clothes, backpacks, and supplies, followed by Lee Baron and the Roxie Douglas Learning Institute on Aug. 9.
If August 1st is a bit early for you to do your shopping, the SAAFE House will be collecting supplies through August 15th. You can also donate a Walmart or Target gift card they will use to purchase supplies.
Throughout August, the Hospitality House will give out backpacks with supplies to their House children in an effort to stress the importance of education. There is also a giveaway by the Huntsville Diamonds.
A tic-tac-toe board made entirely of flyers for start-of-school giveaways in Walker County.
School supplies aren't all children need to start the year on the right foot. That’s why Greater Temple of Deliverance Community Outreach is having a "New Socks. New Beginnings. Bright Futures” back to school sock drive. All sizes of new girls and boys socks are gratefully accepted.
If you've been counting, that makes a total of nine – nine! – efforts from every corner of Walker County to launch our students successfully into the new year. A lot of people have gotten the message – it takes a village.
Adam Olson Team 2,000 Backpacks Drive Drop-Off supplies at their Huntsville office (1400 13th Street), Buck & Bo Children's Boutique (1215 B Sam Houston Ave), or several locations in Montgomery County. Distribution is on August 1st at 10 am at the HEBs in Huntsville, Willis, and Conroe.
Community Praise Ministry Drive Drop-off supplies at 6 pm on July 31st at Huntsville Elementary or contact Vanetta Mills at vmills@huntsville-isd.org. Their biggest needs: composition notebooks, vinyl folders, glue sticks, and binders. Distribution is on August 1st from 10 am - noon at Huntsville Elementary, 87 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr.
Greater Temple of Deliverance church is at 416 Hwy. 190.
Guilty by Association will give away backpacks, school supplies, and clothes at noon on Aug. 8 at 902 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.
Huntsville Toyota Backpack Giveaway You MUST pre-register, maximum of four backpacks per family, and children must be present at distribution, which takes place August 5th from 12 - 2 pm at the dealership, located at 849 I-45 S.
Lee Baron and Roxie Douglas Backpack Giveaway takes place Sunday, Aug. 9 from 5-7 pm at the Lee Baron store, 1524 11th St.
New Waverly Public Library at 9372 Hwy. 75 S, on the south end of town, is giving away school supplies and clothes on Aug. 1 from 10 am - 2 pm, in conjunction with "That Pallet Chick."
SAAFE House Donations Drop off supplies or Walmart/Target gift cards until August 15th at their location at 1426 Sam Houston Ave.
Further information on all these giveaways can be found in the flyers assembled in the gallery above.