8,200 Students in the Howard County Public School System Need Help

Shockingly, 16% of students in the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) rely on the Free & Reduced Meal program for nutritious food their families cannot afford.   Over 400 of them are reported homeless, but the actual number is likely even higher.

For the growing number of these families who can barely keep up with high food, fuel and shelter costs, buying expensive, required school supplies is next to impossible.  We can help them through the PREPARE FOR SUCCESS drive.

Four Options To Help Students in Need:

1. Sponsor a Student’s Backpack & Supplies for $20 (more if possible) via this secure internet website.
2. Place check or cash donations (in envelopes available in Narthex) in the collection plate.  Checks should be payable to “Community Action Council/Prepare for Success.”  Or mail checks to: Prepare for Success, 6800 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, MD 21045.
3. Shop for a Student (no school bus board, tags or sign-up list this year).  Simply take an elementary school supply/backpack shopping list from the collection box area, shop, then fill the backpack with the required supplies and deposit it in or near the PFS collection boxes in the Elevator Room or Parish Hall Christ Church Link office. You choose whether to shop for a boy or girl.  Deadline, Sunday August 14.
4. Donate Loose Supplies (new this year) – Drop as many or as few items as your budget allows into the PFS collection boxes in the Elevator Room or in the Christ Church Link office in the Parish Hall. Lists of needed supplies appear on the boxes and nearby handout sheets. Deadline, Sunday August 14.

PLEASE NOTE: There’s no deadline for web or cash donations, but the sooner the better.  For those of you who have already responded to the county-wide program with a donation, bless you!

Time to help local students prepare for success with school supplies

Beginning Sunday, August 1, you can help a local student get ready to go back to school. For many families in Howard County, purchasing basic school supplies for their children is an incredible challenge. You can help relieve the stress and support your neighbors in need when you:

• Take a student’s tag from the school bus sign in the Narthex, use the attached list to shop for necessary supplies & backpack. Firmly attach tag to filled backpack, return to the Elevator Room. Please return your filled backpack by August 15 so we have time to get the supplies to the family in need.
• Use an envelope available in the Narthex to place a cash/check donation (Payable to: Community Action Council/Prepare for Success) in collection plate.
• Sponsor 2 students for $25 at the Kits for Kidz website. There is no deadline for cash/web donations, but sooner is better than later.  A special thanks those who have already donated!