Demra Brown, Big Sandy First Bank branch manager reported that the bank partnered with Rotary to give away school supplies. They will be handing out backpacks full of needed school supplies for FE Miley K-6th grade students on July 26 & 27 between 2:00-4:00. They got the number of students from last year's enrollment. The decision to hand them out in July was so that whatever else they may need may be purchased by their parent before school starts. For example, on the list of school supplies is red erasers. Red erasers were on backorder. The backpacks have over $30 worth of supplies.
They would love it if the students came and picked up their backpacks. They would love to see the impact when the children receive all their supplies. The supplies are available until supplies are gone.
The First Bank in Lewistown have donated school supplies for several years, but this is the first year First Bank has donated school supplies to schools around the state where their banks are located. First Bank in those towns will work with different partners to distribute the supplies. Here it was, Rotary. In other towns, it could be an insurance company.
Demra said, "They hope to make it an annual event. I'm not going to say it's absolutely got to be a yearly event. Still, they hope to make it an annual event to support the community's children, teachers, and the school system in helping to underwrite some of the costs of sending kids to school.
The supplies are generic general school supplies. Things that every student needs--pencils, highlighters, paper, kind of generic school supplies,
Demra added, "We will have a sign-up sheet so that we can give it to the teachers and say these are the students from this class that receive picked-up bags. So we're trying to make sure that we help all students, not just a select few that come.
This is a new community service for Rotary. This summer, they have put up the patriotic banners, cleaned Sheehy Park, and worked with the T-ball and soccer teams to get the baseball and soccer fields cleaned up. Rotary has also helped get the sprinkler system going on the baseball fields. Rotary paid for the paint and many repairs for the senior citizens.
