Ensuring the kids are prepared

By JOSH MCDONALD

Staff Reporter

OSBURN — Its an unfortunate reality that sometimes kids start the new school year without any or all of the supplies they need.

Thankfully, our local superstore is making an effort to help.

Representatives from Walmart in Smelterville dropped off school supplies last week to some of the local elementary schools in the Silver Valley.

The supplies were part of an effort from Walmart that allowed shoppers to buy specially assembled bags of supplies based off the varying needs of the boys and girls’ lists for each grade.

With costs of new clothes, school supplies, and other school preparation needs on the rise, any help that the community can provide is welcomed by the school administrations.

Several of these bags of supplies were donated to the kids of Pinehurst Elementary School.

PES principal Mike Groves weighed in on how important it is for these students to have the tools necessary for class at the beginning of the year and why this system’s anonymity makes it a win-win for the school.

“It's very important that we have these supplies available,” Groves said. “Every year we have parents who enroll their kids and ask if there's help with school supplies. It's a great way to make sure kids are ready for school and more importantly not embarrassed by not having enough supplies.”

Items in the bags included pencils, erasers, notebooks, paper, crayons, markers, colored pencils, binders and supply pouches.

Groves was thankful for Walmart’s participation, as well as the local shoppers who made the purchases and helped fill the bags.

“Their efforts resulted in enough donations to meet the needs of over 20 students at Pinehurst Elementary School,” Groves said.

Schools on the east side Silver Valley started going back to school last week, the rest kicked up Tuesday morning after Labor Day.