School supply drive to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs

The first day of school is Aug. 22, and an area business is hoping to help youngsters at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada get off to a good start.

Springleaf Financial Services wanted to do something to help kids this year, said Lori Morris, branch manager.

"It's expensive enough for parents to buy their kids school clothes, let alone school supplies," Morris said, "and Springleaf has always been geared toward community involvement."

A group of kids from the club attended a "Summer Social" on Wednesday at Springleaf to celebrate the supply drive.

"We decorated the office like a classroom and will donate all the decorations to the club after the supplies are collected," Morris said. "We even printed certificates of achievement for the kids to put their names and photos on, and have some of them here at the office."

Donations are being accepted through Aug. 12 at the office, 935 Topsy Lane, Suite 436, and Springleaf is distributing flyers hoping to generate more interest in the project.

"We've already got a couple of boxes filled, and at the end, we'll go over to donate everything to the club," she said. "It's been wonderful, and we're hoping even more businesses will participate."

Morris said they decided to team up because she has worked with the Boys & Girls Clubs for years and also because she believes there are too many people not paying attention to teachers, schools and kids these days.

"We wanted to make sure that schools and kids get something this year," she said. "They were so excited when they were here today. It was cool."

Michael-Ann Lazzarino, a unit director at the Boys & Girls Clubs, said the club is grateful for the efforts of Springleaf.

"It helps tremendously," she said. "We have an awful lot of kids who can't afford to buy those things."

Lazzarino said the club has 1,200 enrolled members, and a typical summer day sees anywhere from 350-400 youngsters.

Springleaf Financial Services, formerly American General Finance, has been in business in Carson City since October 1994, and provides loans for auto, mortgage and personal needs.