CLEVELAND, Ohio Some YMCA of Greater Cleveland locations are gathering and distributing necessary back-to-school goods.
Everyone is welcome to visit the Hillcrest branch in Lyndhurst this Friday for a special block party where kids may pick up items for the upcoming school year.
The time of the event is 6 to 9 p.m.
According to Hillcrest Membership Director Trish Eustace, her branch is hosting the block celebration for the third year in a row, and they anticipate an unprecedented number of attendees.
We chose to host our own event even though we had previously organized a school supply collection. To highlight our branch, bring people together, and give them an understanding of what we do, we threw a block party two years ago.
However, she added, we also distributed the materials we had gathered.
We were ecstatic when we had around 130 people the first year. We repeated the same last year, waiving membership costs for school supply donations.
However, we discovered that 350 or so individuals attended the celebration and that we were also receiving donations from current members and employees.
“We donated any remaining school supplies to the South Euclid-Lyndhurst schools,” she said.
We are expecting up to 500 people at the event, and we have received a tremendous amount of goods this year.
Eighteen companies and community organizations have teamed with the branch to either host events or provide food and raffle prizes.
Everyone can receive the free materials they require for academic success, but there is a $5 commitment registration charge for adults and a $2 fee for minors under the age of 18.
North Royalton has more supplies.
Additionally, those who donate school supplies for the Y’s collecting drive at the North Royalton branch can receive a complimentary membership.
According to Kristie Balcer, director of membership, her team has collaborated extensively with a group known as Supply and Success.
Established in 2019 by a committed group of locals, its goal for the upcoming year is to assist 250 youngsters.
Instead of us simply delivering the goods to a school, they locate the areas of need and distribute them.
According to Balcer, school supplies are pricey.
With everything parents need to buy these days to send their kids to school, the total cost can reach $500.
“I borrowed a shopping cart from Discount Drug Mart,” she stated. People have been repeatedly filling it with donated materials, and it is located in the foyer of the branch.
According to Balcer, “we want to make sure that every child begins the year ready to learn, grow, and thrive—and that all begins with the right supplies.”
On August 1, from 4 to 7 p.m., the North Royalton branch will have a special event to gather supplies at the Blue Monkey Brewery, which is located across the street from the Y.
For those who wish to donate, we will waive the membership fees, Balcer stated.
Supplies like highlighters, thin dry erase markers, large glue sticks, Post-it notes, vinyl folders, backpacks, red pens, earbuds, dry erase markers, glue bottles, 1-inch binders, index cards, zipper supply pouches, divider tabs, plastic pocket folders, headphones, scissors, notebooks, tape, loose-leaf paper, and erasers are typical donations that help students succeed.
