Editor's note: a previous version of this story included two donation locations that are no longer being used. The story has been updated.
The United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County is collecting school supplies for local families. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.
The United Way is now taking donations of school supplies that will be given to kids in the Harrisonburg City and Rockingham County public schools.
JO BENJAMIN: We've got a list of items that's listed on our website. We're looking for things like colored pencils, regular pencils, pens, markers, crayons, gluesticks, pretty much anything that could be used up by local school students, just to be able to keep students and teachers well-stocked for the rest of the year.
Jo Benjamin is the organization's director of community impact. There are 40 different collection points where people can drop off their donations, including –
BENJAMIN: … Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community will have one, as well as places like Smiley's Ice Cream … various different community credit unions and banks will be participating as well. So, for the full list, folks should check out our website, but know that there are collection points all over the city and the county.
Students will be able to pick out the supplies they need for free at a resource fair on August 12th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Valley Mall. There will also be local organizations there with information about other services that may be helpful to families.
BENJAMIN: We figured, if families can't afford school supplies, it's likely they could benefit from other community resources as well.
Participating organizations include the Massanutten Regional Library, On the Road Collaborative, Girls on the Run, and the Community Services Board. Interested nonprofits can sign up to table the event on the United Way's website, where they also have information about volunteering.
