Business owner collecting school supplies for Valley kids

SHELTON - Book bags and back to school supplies are being collected for needy children in the Valley during the 6th Annual Back to School Book Bag and School Supply Drive.  

Jennifer Sneider, owner of J Cuts, located at 505 Howe Ave. will collect supplies such as book bags, book covers, rulers, pens, pencils, erasers, notebooks, binders, glue, crayons, calculators, pencil sharpeners, paper and folders until Aug. 26. All items must be brand new.  

A second collection location is Minuteman Press at 427B Howe Ave. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., or call 203-922-9228.

This drive, originally started by the owners of Luther's Garage which is now closed, will continue on an annual basis through J Cuts.

The fifth annual drive resulted in 1,570 items collected totaling approximately $3,718 in book bags and supplies. A total of 110 children were assisted last year.

At the time, these children were being serviced by TEAM, Inc. of Shelton, the Department of Family & Children's Aid/Shelton Safe Home, the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley and the Covenant to Care for Children Adopt a Social Worker Program.

Once again, Vinny Cordone of Shelton, owner of Cordone Landscape & Lawn Maintenance Service was a major contributor donating 100 brand new book bags.

The Shelton Lions’ Club held its own collection and contributed 100 items to the donations. The club is again joining the drive.

"Donors providing new bags and supplies help these challenged children build their confidence and self-esteem as they return to school. Otherwise, these children feel disadvantaged and different from other children. Sporting a new book bag like the other kids on the first day of school, it allows them to walk in with pride and start out feeling more positive about attending school,”  said Meral Prewitt, Regional Coordinator and Team Leader of the Adopt A Social Worker Program.

"This year, we hope to double our numbers," Sneider said. "Children sometimes don't want to go back to school because they don't have what other children have. This drive is very important and critical because it helps to boost their confidence."

The majority of the children who receive supplies are in multiple-problem families and struggling with myriad difficulties including, poverty, domestic violence, developmental disabilities, abuse, neglect and potential homelessness.  

All donations will be distributed to needy children who are getting ready to go back to school. These children are served by the Department of Children & Families/Shelton Safe Home, the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, the A.C.T./Spooner House and TEAM, Inc. of Shelton.  

Donations will be accepted from individuals, as well as groups.  Area corporations and organizations are encouraged to hold their own collections.

For information, call J Cuts, 203-924-4107. All donations are tax deductible.

The above was taken from a release from J Cuts in Shelton.