BY Cheryl Shumway North Country This Week CANTON –A nearly two-decade old back-to-school program is again serving disadvantaged children in the greater Canton area, thanks to the Canton Church and …
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BY Cheryl Shumway
North Country This Week
CANTON –A nearly two-decade old back-to-school program is again serving disadvantaged children in the greater Canton area, thanks to the Canton Church and Community program.
Canton, Hermon-DeKalb and Edwards-Knox school students receive free school supplies and toothbrushes and toothpaste from the program. Free ‘haircut tickets’ are given for Midtown Hair Salon.
Volunteers gather specific school supply lists from teachers. “We find out who the teacher is. We get a copy of the teacher’s supply list, including all those things people don’t think of when they think of standard school supplies – things like disinfectant wipes, tissues, earbuds for computers,” said Sibbitts.
They have expanded the program to include older students who receive a “pre-pack” of binders, paper, pens, pencils and other standard items.
“Students’ school supplies can be very costly. Gone are the days when they needed just a few things for school,” she said.
Donations of money and supplies come from the local churches, individuals, Salvation Army, Midtown Hair, and Stewarts, she said.
Eligibility for the Canton program, as it is at the Neighborhood Centers, is determined by household income information the families provide on application forms.
“If they already get food stamps or are registered with the food pantry, they’re good to go,” Sibbitts said.
Application forms can be picked up at the Church and Community Program office, 7 Main Street, Canton.
Distribution day is August 25 from 1-4 p.m. at the Canton United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 40 Court St.
For more information on the school supply program, contact Sibbits at psibbitts@gmail.com or visit www.ccpcanton.org to donate.