11,000 pounds of paper donated to Valley schools

By JOEL DAVIDSON\-Frontiersman reporter

MEADOW LAKES -- Eleven thousand pounds of virgin-white paper was slated to arrive today at the Mid-Valley Lions Club headquarters.

The blank paper was donated by Georgia Pacific, an international building company, in order to assist local Mat-Su Borough Schools with the cost of paper.

The Lions Club sent out letters to various companies across the country to see if any of them would help gather the paper for schools.

"Our main goal is to work for today's youth," said Nancy Rogers, Mid-Valley Lions Club president. "Several teachers in the Meadow Lakes and Big Lake area are constantly having to watch their paper use. Lots of teachers have to pay for their own paper, and it's important for today's youth to have homework and project papers for the kids to take home."

Kim Floyd, public information specialist for Mat-Su Schools, said school resources and supplies are always a concern for the district.

"We are very appreciative when community organizations help us meet these needs," she said. "Many teachers end up covering those resources out of pocket, and parents also pitch in and help out. It is a costly endeavor, and we put in as much money as we can, but there are always unmet needs."

Rogers said the Mid-Valley Lions Club, which first formed in May, gears all of its efforts to serving Valley youth. The burgeoning club currently has 55 members, and Rogers expects quite a few more members to join soon. In addition, the Lions Club offers a youth group for children between the ages of 12 and 18. They learn about community service and then, when they turn 18, are invited to join the Lions Club proper.

The club meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at the Homesteaders Community Center at the end of Hawk Lane, off the Parks Highway, near Houston High School.

Rogers said the paper will be distributed to Houston High School, Houston Middle School and elementary schools at Goose Bay, Big Lake and Meadow Lakes.

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.