Help Equip the World's Poorest Children for Academic Success by Donating School Supplies (September 16, 2003)
At this time of year, most American families--including homeschool families--have their familiar list of required school supplies in hand and are stocking up for the coming school year. World Vision is asking Americans to share the gift of education with others by participating in its "SchoolTools Drive for the World's Children".
Americans are asked to compile "SchoolTools Kits," which consist of a
zip-top plastic bag filled with basic school supplies that the donor sends
to World Vision's International Distribution Center. World Vision then
ships the kits overseas and distributes them where they are most needed in
countries throughout Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.
While children in the United States sometimes complain about summer being
over and having to go back to school, many children throughout the world
cry in shame and disappointment at not being able to attend school. Many
cannot attend simply because they do not have the necessary supplies to do
so, a luxury we sometimes innocently take for granted.
World Vision's SchoolTools program, which began in 1996, is an easy
opportunity for families, youth groups, churches, and individuals to help
open the doors to education opportunities for children living in countries
devastated by war and widespread poverty. Since the program began, nearly
100,000 kits have been shipped, which were compiled by approximately 3,500
groups.
To participate in the SchoolTools Drive for the World's Children, Americans
are asked to fill a one-gallon zip-top plastic bag with the following:
- One package (7 or 8 count) wooden pencils without designs
- One package (10 or 12 count) ballpoint pens (blue or black ink)
- Two 6 x 9-inch steno notebooks
- One pencil sharpener
- One large pink eraser
- One package (24 count ONLY) regular size crayons
- One 12-inch ruler with metric measurements
Kits can then be shipped to World Vision International Distribution Center,
210 Overlook Drive, Sewickley, PA 15143. For information or to make a
donation, visit http://www.worldvision.org/schooltools/.
About World Vision
Founded in 1950, World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization,
serving the world's poorest children and families in nearly 100 countries.
World Vision maintains health, education, agriculture, water sanitation,
and small business projects that help millions of people in their
communities, helping transform the lives of children and families in need
without regard to their religious beliefs, gender, race, or ethnic
background. For more information on World Vision's work globally or
locally, visit http://www.worldvision.org or http://www.worldvision.org/seattletacoma/.
