Altrusa International of Mansfield members Susie Harlan, left, and Linda Williams join Phil Mitchell of Mansfield City Schools in displaying school supplies Altrusa has provided for homeless children in the district.
A Mansfield service club has come through in a big way to aid Mansfield City Schools’ support for students who are homeless.
Altrusa International of Mansfield has donated thousands of school supplies – book bags, colorful markers, folders, pencils, glue sticks and much more – to the district’s S.A.F.E. (Student Achievement Through Family Engagement) program.
More than 200 district students are classified as homeless. They include those residing in shelters or who are living with relatives or friends.
Linda Williams and Susie Harlan, co-chairs of Altrusa’s Tools for Schools project, said acquiring and providing school supplies to children who need them throughout Richland County is a year-round effort.
“It’s an ongoing campaign. This is the biggest community service project we do. This is our 14th year for Tools for Schools,” said Williams.
For the 2016-17 school year Altrusa has provided nearly 112,000 school supply items to schools for children who need them. A total of 70,204 have been provided to Mansfield City Schools and another 5,628 to the S.A.F.E. program.
“Our goal always is to get supplies in the hands of children who need them,” Harland said. “We want teachers to order what they need but they must understand that Altrusa does not have the funds to supply all of the children in a classroom.”
The local Altrusa club, which has approximately 50 members, was a top award winner for its Tools for Schools program when Altrusa International met in New Zealand in 2013.
“We are open to feedback from teachers,” Williams said. “If there is something they need that isn’t on our list, we want them to let us know. Likewise, if there are supplies they no longer need, we want to know that too.”
Harlan commended the support of retailers like Walmart in Mansfield and Ontario and the Drug Mart in Ontario for providing major discounts for the purchase of school supplies.
“There are a lot of wonderful stores out there who work with us,” she said.
Williams said Tools for Schools is supported by Altrusa’s fund-raising efforts throughout the year. Altrusa’s 7th annual Spring Bash, including music and dinner, will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 4, at the Richland County Fairgrounds. Tickets are $25 per person.
For tickets, contact Williams at 419-544-9486 or Harlan at 419-756-4321.