Food Bank Families Seeking School Supplies, Donation Deadline Approaching

County residents can help local children get off to a good start in school this fall other than their own. 

Donated school supplies are being collected through Aug. 16 for the Somerset County Commission on the Status of Women's annual "Project First Class." Children of families served by the Food Bank Network of Somerset County will benefit from the donations this year.

Although any types of new school supplies will be welcome, the children are most in need of backpacks, notebooks, three-ring binders, highlighters, markers and reference books on CD-ROM, including dictionaries, thesauruses and atlases.

Donations may be dropped off to the Somerset County Freeholders' Office on the third floor of the county administration building at 20 Grove St., Somerville, now through Aug. 16.  The office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Free parking is available in the adjacent Bernie Field Parking Deck off East High Street.

"This is an opportunity to help kids who might otherwise have no way of getting the necessary supplies for the new school year," said Freeholder Director Jack M. Ciattarelli, commission liaison.  "This is critical in the current economy, when families are struggling to meet their basic needs.  For this reason, we are especially appreciative of the Commission's efforts in carrying out this important annual event."

The SCCSW serves as an advisory board to the Board of Chosen Freeholders to address present and potential needs of women and to develop a greater public awareness of women's issues.

Project First Class co-chairs are Commission members Paula Marasco and Dawn Guttschall.  For more information, contact Paula Marasco at (908) 953-0791.