School Shopping and Other Thoughts

As I visit various businesses in our area, I am aware of many "Back to School" signs posted-in clothing departments, office and school supplies, shoe stores, and so forth. I know parents in our area, and students, are beginning to think about and decide how best to equip the kids for the upcoming school year.  It also leads me to think about some related concerns and to take this blog opportunity to discuss them with our West Bloomfield readers.

I have mentioned to people in various circumstances that our congregation collects supplies to donate to our local elementary school.  Often people are shocked to consider that students in West Bloomfield schools may not come from affluent or at least financially comfortable home settings.  The public perception out there is that we are not a school district that includes students and families who struggle for basic daily needs such as food, clothing and shelter.  And yet I can say with certainty that, in some of our local schools, up to 40% of students qualify for the federal reduced or free lunch program.  
Conversations with principals, teachers and school social workers will confirm this figure, and give us anecdotal evidence of need right in our neighborhood schools.  

For these families, even meeting the minimum school supply list for their children is a major struggle.  With shrinking school budgets and austerity programs, the school staff are less able to help provide needy students with supplies as well.
Often, even if children are able to begin the school year with adequate supplies, by January or so they no longer have the means to replace supplies which are used up.  Higher heating and energy bills in cold weather may just push their families over the edge of being able to keep everyone in winter clothing, pencils, notebooks and so on.

So I am writing to you, dear West Bloomfield Patch readers.  If you are able to, consider expanding your school shopping to include a few items for needy children.  Take them to your local school yourself, or donate through the collections I know local houses of worship are offering. If your house of worship is not doing a school supply collection, start one.  Or bring them to Sylvan Lake Lutheran-Advent Episcopal church on Figa Ave.  We will make sure they get to where they are needed. 

Oh, and make yourself a calendar reminder to consider a resupply shopping trip sometime after the winter holiday.  Include boxes of tissue, rolls of paper toweling, small bottles of hand sanitizer and a few pairs of gloves or mittens.  Your neighbors children might just be the ones who will benefit from your generosity.  Someone in your child's class could be likewise. It's really a small thing, but so important.  Any task undertaken is better done with the proper tools.  Education is certainly no exception.
See you around!