All smiles after face painting and new school supplies at last year's School Supply Give Away in Gary. (Photo Wendell Harris)
SSGA – Granddaddy of school supply giveaways
Contributed By:The 411 News
Where will you be Saturday, August 12?
On the week before the start of school in Gary, it’s a mixed blessing. Parents welcome the start of school, but not the expenses of new clothing and tuition for their children. The one day that parents will count on this year is Saturday, August 12, when several school supply giveaways take place.
The granddaddy of all giveaways is the School Supply Give Away of Gary at AAble 2 Stow It Storage & Uhaul, 855 Taft Street.
Sharon and Ben Tyler’s first school supply giveaway was in 2002, when they provided notebooks, paper, pencils, and pens to 90 neighborhood children. That first year, the Tylers got support from their church – St. Augustine Episcopal in Gary – and customers.
Since then, SSGA has aided tens-of-thousands of families to start the school year.
Now in its 16th year, each student from pre-school through college will receive a backpack and age appropriate supplies. From 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., all attending get a hot-dog lunch, local hairstylists provide free haircuts, volunteers provide face painting and games. “As funding has increased, we have provided hand sanitizer, dental-care kits and other hygiene items for students. Clean, used school uniforms also are distributed,” said Sharon Tyler.
Their plans for the future include adding a second give-away event during the winter months, where students can replenish supplies such as paper, pens, pencils, and to provide vouchers to students for new school uniforms.
All children under 15 must be accompanied by a parent at the SSGA.
Other school supply giveaways taking place on Saturday are Back-2-School Health Fair & Giveaway at RailCats Baseball Stadium, Gary; Third District Councilman Anthony Higgs School Supply Giveaway, ML King Park, Hammond; and School Supplies & Backpack Giveaway, Trinity United Church of Christ, Gary.
On Sunday, August 13 Branden Dawson will host a school supply giveaway at IUN’s Savannah Hall gym from noon until 2 p.m.
Story Posted:08/10/2017
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