Churches collect school supplies to distribute

Last year, hundreds lined up outside Aurora’s Greenman Elementary School for the summer school supply giveaway.

The event, Seeds for Success, started at 9 a.m. and went until about 10:30 a.m., when supplies were exhausted. While 450 students and parents left with sacks of supplies, about 500 others were disappointed.

The Rev. Deborah Tinsley Taylor, pastor of Fourth Street United Methodist Church, supply fair co-sponsor with Wesley UMC in Aurora, said volunteers want to serve all students in need.

To make it happen, organizers are making a push for donations — supplies or cash — before the seventh annual event, scheduled for 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at Greenman Elementary School, 729 W. Galena Blvd., Aurora.

Donations will be accepted at Fourth Street UMC, 551 S. Fourth St., Aurora, and Wesley UMC, 14 N. May St., Aurora. Checks can be sent to the Fourth Street UMC office, with Seeds for Success in the memo line.

Supplies needed include three-ring, 1-inch binders; pocket folders; yellow highlighters; washable color markers; wide-ruled, spiral-bound notebooks and filler paper; pens; rulers; round-tipped scissors; pencils; pencil sharpeners; 24-count crayon boxes; erasers (Pink Pearl); glue sticks or bottles; and supply boxes.

Volunteers will distribute supplies to students from kindergarten to 12th grade on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.

To donate or for information, call (630) 897-5257 or visit fourthstumc@sbcglobal.net.