One more week!

Hello Friends,

Hope this finds you all well! Though my lofty goals for keeping a running tab on donations did not materialize through a vacation, the start of school and activities, houseguests, and a new puppy, we have still been collecting! Today I met with a group of wonderful 8-11 year old girls to put together kits from what we have so far.

We are 29 100-page notebooks shy of the fillings for 47 completed kits, with a start on about 5-10 more. We have quite a few standard pencils and scissors, but could use a few more rulers, pencil sharpeners, 12-packs of colored pencils, and erasers, along with more notebooks. Of course, we'll still take anything you have already collected as any surplus and/or items not found on the list that we receive will be donated to the Office Max school supplies drive.

The notebook requirement calls for 450 pages in no more than 6 notebooks. We've found that generally speaking, the best value is found by grouping 5 70-page notebooks (I found them for a quarter each at Target today) with 1 100-page or 120-page notebook, but other combinations are acceptable (ie 3 80-page notebooks with 3 70-page notebooks or 3 150-page notebooks).

We have three completed sewn bags, with a commitment for about 20 more. If anyone knows how to sew and would like to help we would love it! I also have a sewing machine I can lend out (as I don't actually know how to sew).

Also, for the last week (beginning Thursday, September 8th) there will be an additional collection bin located through the front doors of Steeple Run Elementary School across from the "I Forgot" bins, along with the bin in front of my home.

Just a reminder that the kits we are putting together include the following:
• 4 pencils (unsharpened)
• 1 box pre-sharpened or unsharpened assorted colored pencils
(approx. 7” long, approx. 12 pencils/box)
• 1 pencil sharpener
• 1 rubber pencil eraser (approx 1" x 2")
• 1 straight edge ruler - 12 inches, with metric
• 1 pair of blunt-nosed scissors (metal blades)
• Glued or spiral bound notebooks or letter size legal pads, with lined sheets. Include enough notebooks/pads to total approximately 450 sheets (Please do not include more than 6 notebooks/pads). Sheet sizes 8 1/2" x 11", 8" x 10 1/2", 8 1/2" x 11 3/4" are acceptable.

Thanks for your help!
The Wilsons

PS Mark your calendar for Feed My Starving Children on Saturday, November 12th from 2-4 PM.