Aurora Methodists seek funds, school supplies for public giveaway Aug. 6
Aurora Methodists are seeking donations of funds and school supplies for a school-supply distribution on Saturday, Aug. 6.
The ninth annual event will be held from 9 to 11 a.m., or until supplies are distributed, at Greenman Elementary School, 729 W. Galena Blvd., Aurora.
Students from Aurora schools are invited to get school supplies and backpacks. Students must attend to receive supplies.
The event is sponsored by Wesley and Fourth Street United Methodist churches in Aurora.
About 20 volunteers from both churches combined will stage and distribute supplies.
Needed are book bags, three-ring binders, pocket folders, yellow highlighters, crayons, washable markers, dry-erase markers, spiral-bound notebooks, packs of black and blue-ink pens, Fiskars scissors, rulers with inches and centimeters, supply boxes, round-tip scissors, notebook paper, No. 2 pencils, colored pencils, pink erasers and glue sticks.
About 300 pupils received supplies during last year's first distribution at Greenman, "adopted" by Wesley UMC several years ago.
The first six giveaways were held at Wesley.
The Rev. Gary Hougen, Wesley UMC outreach coordinator, said the giveaway is organized by Aurora Methodist churches and businesses that care about the education and health of local children.
He said, "This is a community effort to give necessary school supplies to students who could not otherwise afford them. We care that kids should have the tools to learn with at school. We hope to give away backpacks of school supplies to students from all grades from the East and West Aurora school districts.
"We will purchase school supplies at local stores to keep the effort in Aurora. Both the value of the supplies and monetary donations are tax deductible," Rev. Hougen said.
The Rev. John Bell, Wesley UMC pastor, distributed free doughnuts to students and caregivers lined up for previous distributions.
Checks made payable to Wesley United Methodist Church may be sent to the church at 14 N. May St., Aurora, IL, 60506-3867.
Supplies may be brought to the church office from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Deadline to donate funds or supplies is July 31.
For more information, call (630) 896-1033 or email rechargeable50@hotmail.com.