Program anticipates assisting over 1,000 students

The Tools for School program provides essential school supplies to hundreds of children whose families are served by the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services to ensure a positive start to the school year. It’s anticipated that more than 1,000 children will need assistance this school year, up from 900 last year.

“We appreciate the tremendous support we receive each year from the community,” said Kathy Perun, volunteer coordinator for the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services.

Under the leadership of the Chesterfield County Youth Planning and Development Department, youths are joining the effort to make a difference by setting up collection sites at all nine Chesterfield County public libraries from July 28 to Aug. 8. You may donate as few or as many items as you wish at these sites.

There are three additional ways to support Tools for School:

1) Sponsor a child. Contact Perun at 804-706-7655 or perunk@chesterfield.gov. You will receive a child’s first name, gender, grade and school-supply list. Purchase a new book bag for that child and fill it with all the needed supplies. Return the book bag to Social Services by Aug. 15. You may sponsor more than one child.

2) Donate money to the program. Checks should be made payable to the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services. Please write “School Supplies” in the memo line of your check. Money will be used to purchase $50 gift cards for children who are not sponsored. Donations must be received by Aug. 5.

3) Donate $50 gift cards from any store that sells school supplies. These cards will be distributed to parents of children who are not sponsored by the program. Parents will use the gift cards to buy supplies for their children. The deadline for gift cards to be donated is Aug. 5.

All checks and gift cards should be mailed to: Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services, Attn. Kathy Perun, P.O. Box 430, Chesterfield, VA 23832. For more information, visit Chesterfield.gov, and under Departments, scroll to Social Services and click Volunteer Program.

Chesterfield County