For the 7th year in a row, Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference youth are collecting school supplies to help local students in need start the year off on the right foot by providing backpacks pre-filled with supplies. Understanding that the start of this school year is going to be different than any they have ever experienced, the Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference School Supply Drive Committee wants to ensure that no matter where the learning is being done, whether virtual or in person, students have what they need to be successful.
The School Supply Drive Committee is seeking donations of new backpacks (all ages, colors and sizes), paper (both lined and graph), composition books, pencils (both graphite and colored), ink pens, glue sticks, crayons, markers, rulers, and calculators (both standard and scientific).
Donations are being collected through Wednesday, August 5th, and may be dropped in the blue collection barrels at either the El Dorado Hills or Placerville Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference Youth Centers or by appointment. The El Dorado Hills Youth Center is located at 877 Embarcadero Drive, Suite 3, and the Placerville Youth Center is located at 905-A Spring Street. Donation bins can also be found at: Face In A Book and California Welcome Center in El Dorado Hills, and Robinson’s Pharmacy, T.W. Bonkers 'Toy & Candy Emporium', El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce, and Boeger Winery in Placerville.
In person donations can also be made at the Placerville Youth Center on 7/30 from 9am to 1pm and on 8/5 from 2pm to 4pm and at the El Dorado Hills Office, 873 Embarcadero Drive, Suite 5 on 7/28, 7/29, 7/30 and 8/4 from 11am to 3pm. For more information about making a donation, please contact Melissa at melissap@hands4hopeyouth.org or (530) 556-5864.
Collected supplies will be distributed the first Friday of August through a distribution event coordinated in conjunction with Placerville Unified School District. The National Retail Federation estimates that the average American family spends close to $700 on school supplies and back to school clothing each year. The school supplies collected during this drive are essential to offset these costs for local families who are struggling financially.
If you would like to sponsor a child, you can donate at https://www.hands4hopeyouth.org/schoolsupplydrive and we will do the shopping for you!
The Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference School Supply Drive Committee, made up of ten youth and three adult mentors, has had to change the way they collect donations from the community due to current social distancing and safety guidelines related to COVID-19. In years past, our youth have been able to go into local businesses to request participation and support, as well as set up mini collection events. This year, committee members have had to embrace the use of virtual platforms and contactless donation collection.