Foundations for the Future reaching kids in need

MAT-SU — New clothes, hip backpacks and new school supplies accompanied thousands of Mat-Su Borough School District students back to the classroom Thursday.

For many, back-to-school is an exciting time to renew old friendships, meet new classmates and put those new, clean notebooks, pens and pencils to work. But for some Valley students, returning to classes isn’t so pleasant.

“Coming to school prepared, whether it’s having the right coats, gloves, pens or pencils, sets the students in the right frame of mind,” said Catherine Esary, school district spokesperson. “It also takes the anxiety and burden off the student. They’re more comfortable (not worrying about having the right supplies) and it’s better socially. They won’t be teased because they won’t have something.”

That’s where the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman and the community come in. The newspaper is again spearheading Foundations for the Future, an annual school supply drive that distributes supplies to schools and students that need them. In 2009, Foundations for the Future provided supplies to deserving students at more than 40 Mat-Su schools, said Kris Moore, circulation customer service representative for the Frontiersman and organizer of the drive.

“It’s important because some kids don’t have access to the things they need, and our community is a very generous community,” Moore said. “And we need more, lots more. Last year, we gave out to just about every school in the district. It was quite an operation, probably enough for 20 kids in each school.”

One aspect that makes Foundations unique is that it targets specific children who need the supplies, said Esary. Teachers can identify students in their classes who need new supplies, then school nurses come to the paper to fill those needs.

“This is tremendous,” she said. “We had at the end of last year about 1,000 homeless students. There are students who would not have supplies were it not for this community support.”

One way the community steps up is by using the buy-one-get-one-free offers many stores have at back-to-school time, Moore said.

“I’ve had people say they’re going to bring us all their free items,” she said. “Everything from pencils, paper, crayons, markers, notebooks and backpacks. In relating it to my own children, back to school, I would say, is like Christmas or their birthday. This is a discreet way to help those in need. And there’s definitely a need.”

Anyone wanting to contribute school supplies to Foundations for the Future can drop the supplies off through Aug. 27 at the Frontiersman office, 5751 E. Mayflower Court, or at either of the Valley’s Curves outlets in Palmer and Wasilla.

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.