City Welfare Office Looking for School Supplies

Ellen Tully is hopeful her office at City Hall will be filled with school supplies so the city can provide less fortunate children with what they need to go back to school.

On Monday, Tully, who works as a case technician in the city's Welfare Department, said she has had some people donate backpacks and a few notebooks so far, but many other school supplies are needed.

Some of the items Tully said people can donate include 3-ring binders, calculators, lined index cards, mini staplers and pencil sharpeners. The city Welfare Department will collect donated school supplies through the month of August and distribute to them to families on a first come, first serve basis.

Tully has sought school supply donations through the Welfare Department for five years and her office serves families in Portsmouth, Rye, Newcastle and Newington. She said people do not have to be Portsmouth residents to donate items or to receive donated supplies.

The best way for people to donate any school supplies or gift cards is to bring them to her office at City Hall Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Tully said.