Bartell Drugs Kicks Off Annual School Supply Drive

On Monday, August 8, Bartell Drugs kicked off its 8th annual “School Tools for Kids in Need” drive, which will run through Sunday, August 28. Donations of school supplies will be accepted at all 58 of the drug store’s locations.

According to the company, donated school supplies will help restock the Kids in Need Resource Center, where teachers whose students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch programs”shop” free of charge for school supplies to help meet students’ needs. Over the past year, 120 schools throughout the Puget Sound region were served by the center, with an average pick up of $700 in donated items for each of the nearly 2500 teacher visits.

Bartell’s says initiatives like this are critical in such tough economic times, when many students can’t afford to purchase the items they need for school. World Vision, a charitable organization based in Federal Way, Washington, estimates that as many as 58,000 local students could begin the upcoming school year without the basic school supplies.

“With so many area children lacking basic school supplies, there’s never been a more important time to support this drive. Over the past seven years we’ve appreciated the support by our customers and the public for their donations,” said Bartell Drugs Chairman and CEO George D. Bartell in a statement.

Mead, Avery and Bic have teamed up with Bartell’s to support this year’s “School Tools for Kids in Need” drive. A “Basic Needs” list of suggested donation items found in Bartell’s “School Aisles” include:

• 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

The Seattle Storm women's basketball team will joining Bartell’s, World Vision, and Star 101.5 radio station at a special Back-to-School Night game on August 28 to raise awareness and collect donations. For more information, visit Bartell’s Web site.