By Scott Harvey
Commerce – The Commerce Communities in Schools program is asking you to help stuff the bus this summer in preparation of the new school year.
The organization's Nancy Laws says this is the third annual school supply drive to benefit the students of Commerce.
"We would like to encourage everyone to help us by donating basis school supplies like pens, pencils, notebooks, paper, glue erasers and rulers."
There are several ways that people can donate. Brookshires grocery is selling $5 sacks of supplies and donation boxes are being placed at area churches and businesses. Laws says you can also drop off a donation at any of the CISD's four campuses or Central Administration Office.
Supplies will be distributed on Saturday, August 13 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Commerce High School Cafeteria. Last year, Communities in Schools distributed more than 300 packages to students.
Laws says, "We do the uniform distribution and the school supply distribution at the same time and the students receive a nice new backpack with their school supplies in it so there are a lot of smiles."
Thursday, July 21 is the final day for families to turn in application forms for uniforms and supplies, which are being accepted at Commerce Middle School.
Communities in Schools is a nationwide program whose main goal is to curb the dropout rate by working with at-risk students through mentoring and tutoring. Volunteers also conduct fundraisers throughout the year to ease the financial burden on students and their families.