Bartell Drugs' School Supply Drive Kicks Off Today

Bartell Drugs' eighth annual "School Tools for Kids in Need" school supplies drive kicks off today. Through Aug. 28, you can drop off supplies at all 58 Bartell's locations, including , to support local students.

Donated school supplies will help re-stock the World Vision's Kids in Need Resource Center in Renton, where teachers--whose students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch programs--"shop" for school supplies free of charge.

Over the past year, the center served 120 schools throughout the Puget Sound region, with an average pick up of $700 in donated items for each of the nearly 2,500 teacher visits.

This year Mead, Avery and Bic have teamed up with Bartell's to support the drive. Here's a list of suggested donation items:

• Paper Mate #2 Pencils - 20 Count
• Bic Cristal or Round Stic Ink Pens - 10 pack. Blue or Black
• Elmer's Glue - Glue-All or School Glue/4 oz. bottles
• Kids' Scissors - pointed or blunt
• Avery Glue Stic/2 pack - Acid-free, photo-safe, permanent and washable
• Pentel Hi-Polymer Erasers - 3 pack
• Avery Poly Binders - 1/2" or 1" sizes
• Crayons - 24 colors
• Avery Hi-Liter Markers - Yellow or Pink
• Erasers - 25 pack cap erasers or 4 pack pink

According to Federal Way-based World Vision, a globally-known charitable organization, as many as 58,000 local students could begin the school year without the basic school supplies.