School supplies drive in time for holiday giving
Published 9:37 pm Thursday, November 26, 2009
SELMA – In the spirit of the season of giving, the Judicial Correction Services and Selma Police Department are gathering items for the Selma City Schools. “It’s a giving time of year and we’re trying to tap into that spirit,” said William Riley, police chief.
On behalf of Josie Mann and Sophia P. Kingston Elementary School, the item drive is collecting basic school supplies and nonperishable items. After fifth-grade student Josie Mann constantly asked her mother for items for school, Judicial Correction Services officer manager Miah Tolbert decided to see about an item drive to help out her daughter’s school.
“She came home continually asking for Lysol and hand sanitizer,” Tolbert said. “And I just can’t continually give her that.” Mann’s teacher was considering purchasing the items with her own money, Tolbert said.
Tolbert then asked the police department and her department to join in on the gathering process, and the drive has collected more than $1,000 of items thus far.
“Our biggest goal is to get the community and businesses involved,” Riley said. “The biggest thing for us is to try to provide for the schools.”
The police department collected toys and canned good last year for Christmas, and this year wanted to contribute earlier. “This will be an early Christmas present to the schools,” Riley said. “We know that times are tight, but all we’re doing is asking in hopes that people will be generous enough to donate.”
The item drive will end of Dec. 11. The drive is collecting multi-purpose copy paper, Germ X, Kleenex facial tissues, Lysol spray, paper towels, number two pencils, rulers and wide ruled writing paper. “There may be some items that we didn’t think of that individuals may want to bring that may be beneficial to the school,” Riley said. “We welcome those too.”
All items will be delivered to the Selma City schools central office on Dec. 16 at 10 a.m. Drop off items at the police station at 1300 Alabama Ave. in the large red box in the lobby or at the Judicial Correction Services office on the second floor.
