A sampling of some of the much needed school supplies donated by Plaza North and Kmart customers for the Salvation Army back to school drive.

On Saturday, July 23rd, the Petaluma Salvation Army held its first ever back to school drive in front of Kmart at The Plaza North.  The response from the community was overwhelming.  By the end of the day, two huge bins of school supplies had been donated by this wonderful community.  The response was so generous that volunteers had to rush over to Kmart and pick up donations halfway through the day as the bin was overflowing.

Captain Barbara Schneider of the Petaluma Corps offices said that the donations will go a very long way in supplying the back to school needs of almost 100 local school children.  The donations are being organized on tables at the Salvation Army and children will be “going shopping” with their classroom lists for much-needed supplies. In addition to thanking our Kmart and Plaza North shoppers, special thanks go out to Massage Envy of Petaluma, Spurgeon Painting and Kiwanis Club of Petaluma.

There is still time to donate.  Requested items include:  Flash Drives, 2” 3 Ring Binders, 5 Subject Notebooks – College Ruled, Subject Dividers, Graph Paper, Pocket Folders,  Composition Books, Highlighters, Pencil Pouches,Wide Ruled Binder Paper, Wide Ruled Spiral Notebooks, Pencil Sharpeners, White Board Markers, Book Covers, Index Cards, Scientific Calculator, Geometry Set, Pocket Dictionary, Felt Tip Colored Markers, Crayons, Glue.

Massage Envy at 247 N. McDowell (by Linen Outlet) is hosting the Salvation Army back to school drive donation bin through Thursday, August 11

School supply donations can be dropped off at the Petaluma Salvation Army offices at 721 N. McDowell Blvd during office hours between 9 am – noon, Monday-Friday.  They can also be dropped off in the donation bin at Massage Envy in The Plaza North  at 247 N. McDowell (by Linen Outlet). In order for the school supplies to be distributed to children in a timely manner, the due date for school supply donations is Thursday, August 11.   Monetary donations for back-to-school supplies may be sent to: The Salvation Army of Petaluma, P.O. Box 750684, Petaluma, 94975 or go online to www.salarmypetaluma.org. For more information, call the Petaluma Salvation Army office at 769-0716.

For further news about the Salvation Army’s Back-to-School drive, below is a recent article from the Argus Courier:

While it seems like summer has just begun, school is already around the corner. Now, the panic sets in: Parents need to buy school clothes, lunch boxes, backpacks, glue sticks, pencils and more.

As public schools are left with less money in their budgets, the burden falls on the parents to pick up the slack, and for many low-income families, it is a burden they cannot bear on their own. Capt. Scott Schneider of the Petaluma Salvation Army has taken it upon himself to solve the stressful problems that come with sending children back to school.

via Salvation Army helps kids get supplies to start school year | Petaluma360.