Program collects school supplies for students in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Seven years ago when Juliann Dodds was picking up her first-grade son from school, the sight of elementary-aged school children carrying plastic grocery bags for backpacks raised enough concern to her that she began the "Backpacks for Kids" program.

Working in conjunction with the Moses Lake Noon Rotary Club, Dodds is taking donations of school supplies again this school year for children in grades K-5 in the Moses Lake School District.

"It's pretty high on our priority list because it is all about the kids," Dodds said of Rotary's involvement with the program.

Nearly 700 backpacks were collected last school year, with many of the donations going to low-income families.

Dodds added that looking at the number of students receiving free and reduced lunch in the MLSD is a strong indicator of how big the need is for local students.

According to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Web site, as of October of 2003, 53 percent of students in the MLSD were receiving free and reduced lunches.

"If we can (contribute) a little bit it's a tremendous value to people in the future," said Carl Barr, Moses Lake Noon Rotary President.

The backpacks will be distributed the first week of school, Aug. 31, to each of the elementary schools in the MLSD.

Parents should call their children's school for pick-up times.

Donations should be marked with the grade level they should go to and can be dropped off at any of the following locations: Sterling Savings Bank in Moses Lake; Dano and Harper, PLLC; or Moses Lake Family Dentistry.

"If we don't help them learn then we're missing a huge opportunity," Dodds said.

For more information call 765-7867 or 765-9285.