Helping kids in need: Project Hope's School Supply Drive
EUGENE, Ore. -- With school just around the corner many parents know that the end of August means hunting for everything on a child's school supply list. Thanks to the hard work of volunteers with Project Hope thousands of kids from Eugene, Springfield and Junction City received all supplies required supplies at the annual School Supply Giveaway at PK Park.
Project Hope collected shoes, clothing and school supplies by the truckload during a year-round donation drive. Officials with the organization said that they had enough backpacks, supplies and shoes to cover 2,500 children at this year's giveaway.
Last year 1,100 people attended the giveaway and many of them were turned away empty handed. Even though there were more supplies collected this year, parents like Nellie Martinez arrived early to ensure that this wouldn't happen to them.
"I have six kids and it hasn't been easy with the economy and everything. When I found out about this, I thought wow, that's a lot of help!" Martinez said.
In order for a student to receive school supplies from the drive the child must get a ticket from their school. Schools in Bethel, Springfield, Junction City and the rest of the Eugene 4J District distributed the tickets to the families that they determined were most in need of school supplies.
For families like Martinez's, they appreciate that Project Hope and the school districts are recognizing how difficult it can be for families to provide everything on the supply lists.
"We're kind of looking at this as a glass-half-full and saying we're doing what we can... and that's a good thing." said Martinez.
Project Hope continues to collect donations of shoes and supplies at drives throughout the year.
Does this picture tell anyone that there is something wrong with this administrations handling of the economy? Oh, wait a minute, sorry I forgot for a second, it was all G. Bush's fault, just like Gore really won the election. We will be hearing that at least four more years if Obama gets reelected. No honor, no truth, surely hope there is some left out there somewhere amongst our miserable excuse for politicians across the board.
@souptonuts A Republican who thinks that the rich are the ones suffering in this economy is not going to make things better for families that work for a living.
@Blahblahblah Well I am not a republican, and I am certainly not a Progressive Democrat. If I had to align with any party it would be one of two choices, Blue Dog Conservative Democrat or Libertarian.  The other two parties are destroying this country. People voted for change the las time around, and they really need change now, only we need change with honor, we have had enough deception and lies, poverty and homelessness. In my opinion progressives and republicans are liars, cheats, and thieves, and we have to get them out of office or the little man, and so called middle class has no chance.