School Supply Squad

12.13.2021

School Supply Squad is well underway this school year, supplying school supplies to disadvantaged students who cannot afford to purchase their own supplies. With the support of volunteers Jeremy, Larry, Russ, Dave Turney, Don Henderson, and Laura, and volunteers from Trinity UMC, and Kiwanis monetary backing we have delivered nearly 8,000 items to about 45 schools by early December. The 8,000 items range in cost from pencils to backpacks, and school names from Atherton to Williams, and are as many items as we have supplied in several former full school years.

The 45 schools contacted and supplied so far is an increase from 30 elementary schools we traditionally called on in previous years, and this year includes 7 Title 1 Jr. High schools, 12 Mansfield ISD Title 1 schools physically located in Arlington, and 44 Title 1 Arlington elementary schools. We still have about 10 schools not yet reached, and will approach those in early 2022 in an attempt to reach all Title 1 school students in Arlington elementary and Jr. High schools.

Several school items need to be replenished, and Dollar Days and Bags N-Bulk are keeping our cost very near to summer sale prices. I am able to track inventory this year, and plan a physical inventory in late December to compare to volunteer reported deliveries.

Jim Burgess,

School Supply Coordinator

1.07.2022

When concerning our newfound outreach to Mansfield ISD, “…for the first semester the other 9 Title 1 schools, to varying degrees, have received 2,168 items from pencils to back packs in cost and from composition books to zipper bags alphabetically, with a total cost estimated at $1,450.  While we acquire a better understanding of MISD needs, we are limiting deliveries to elementary schools at $75 per month, and Jr. high’s at $150 per month.”.

Jim Burgess,

School Supply Coordinator

9.25.2022

At the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year, KCA joined with School Supply Squad in an attempt to augment their capability and set a goal of reaching all “at risk” students in Arlington, TX elementary and Jr. High schools.
School Supply Squad (SSS) was formed by Trinity United Methodist Church, and was supported by individual donations by the congregants. SSS stocked 30 standard elementary school items, and each month relied on school counselors to identify students who could not afford to purchase their own supplies and consolidate the school’s needs, and with 8 volunteers delivered each school’s requests. Some schools were covered by local benefactor churches, and for several years SSS was able to call on 30 elementary schools and supply the needs of around 20 schools.
With the basic infrastructure in place, Kiwanis conferred with SSS to determine how the two child oriented entities could join forces to reach out to all Title 1 elementary, plus add Jr. High, schools physically located in Arlington – 66 schools in total.
Training volunteers, and contacting and coordinating with schools we knew would take more than one year, so Kiwanis provided 6 volunteers and sufficient funds to reach all 66 schools before the end of the second school year, expecting a relationship and care with an estimated 50 schools. For the 2021-2022 school year we contacted 58 schools, and received requests from 38.

The chart above represents what was accomplished in 2021-2022 with Kiwanis compared to previous years. Of course, 2020-21 was a terrible year of disruption for schools, however, the annual average for years to and including 2019-2020 was 7500 to 8000 items supplied.
Kiwanis volunteers contacting and delivering to Arlington schools include Laura Arnhart, Larry James, Jeremy Normand, Russ Hagan, Dave Turney, Don Henderson, and Jim Burgess.

Jim Burgess,

School Supply Coordinator

7.28.2023

At the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year, Arlington Kiwanis joined with School Supply Squad in an attempt to augment their capability and set a goal of reaching all “at-risk” students in Arlington, Texas, elementary and Jr. High schools.
School Supply Squad (SSS) was formed by Trinity United Methodist Church and was supported by individual donations by the congregants. SSS stocked 30 standard elementary school items, and each month relied on school counselors to identify students who could not afford to purchase their own supplies and consolidate the school’s needs. With eight volunteers, they delivered each school’s requests. Some schools were covered by local benefactor churches, and for several years, SSS was able to call on 30 elementary schools and supply the needs of around 20 schools.
With the basic infrastructure in place, Kiwanis conferred with SSS to determine how the two child-oriented entities could join forces to reach out to all Title 1 elementary, plus add Jr. High, schools physically located in Arlington – 66 schools in total.
Training volunteers and contacting and coordinating with schools would take more than one year, so Kiwanis provided six volunteers and sufficient funds to reach all 66 schools before the end of the second school year, expecting relationships and care with an estimated 50 schools. For the 2021-2022 school year, 58 schools were contacted, and 38 of them submitted requests. For the 2022-2023 school year, members contacted all 66 schools and received requests for 41.

The chart above represents what was accomplished in 2021-2022 and in 2022-2023 with Kiwanis, compared to the 2019 school year. Of course, 2020-21 was a terrible year of disruption for schools and is not included for a more meaningful comparison. The annual average for years up to and including 2019 was 7500 to 8000 items supplied per year. Kiwanis volunteers contacting and delivering to Arlington schools were:

Laura Arnhart
Larry James
Jeremy Normand
Russ Hagan
Dave Turney
Don Henderson
Jim Burgess