Salvation Army’s 4th annual school supply drive underway

Backpacks and other school supplies are being collected through Aug. 14 to benefit at-risk children in Carson City, Douglas County and surrounding areas.

The supplies will be distributed through the Salvation Army’s Carson City location, 661 Colorado St., and a large portion of the backpacks will be given to local school districts for distribution to children in transition.

Salvation Army officials say they already have more than 300 request for supplies.

“A big part of a child’s success in school is having the necessary supplies for the lessons they will be doing. In our constant goal of breaking the cycle poverty we want to give at-risk children every opportunity to succeed,” said Captain Mark Cyr, commanding officer of the local Salvation Army. “The biggest shortages we have this year is pencils, crayons, colored pencils, three-ring binders and the scientific calculators.”

This is the Army’s fourth year sponsoring the Apple Tree school supply and backpack drive.

Needed supplies include pencils, crayons, colored pencils, three-ring binders, scientific calculators, backpacks, pens, scissors, pencil sharpeners, pencil pouches, paper, notebooks, composite books, glue sticks, highlighters, and any other items students may need. Also being collected are boxes of healthy cereal.

Similar to the Salvation Army’s Christmas Angel Tree program, the school supply drive offers paper apples that have children’s wishes written on them to help donors shop.

Apple Trees are located at the following businesses: Aaron’s Furniture, 3355 S. Carson St.; Anytime Fitness, 2629 N. Carson St. and 4215 S. Carson St.; Cal Ranch, 2035 N. Carson St.; City Hall, 201 N. Carson St.; Carson City Aquatic Facility, 841 N. Roop St.; Multi-purpose Athletic Center, 1860 Russell Way; Community Center, 851 E. William St.; Les Schwab, 3219 N. Carson St. in Carson City and 1151 Highway 395 in Gardnerville; Napa Auto Parts, 1882 E. Williams St.; Tumbleweeds Gymnastics, 2231 Meridian Blvd. in Minden and 3633 Research Way in Carson City; Raley’s, 3701 S. Carson St.; Jethro’s, 1281 Kimmerling Road in Gardnerville; Rite Aid, 1329 Highway 395 in Gardnerville; Smith’s, 1341 Highway 395 in Gardnerville and 6 Pine Cone Road in Dayton; and Bunny Ranch Bar & Grill, 10025 Highway 50.

Or, backpacks and supplies can be dropped at the Salvation Army before Aug. 14. Online donations can be made at carsoncity.salvationarmy.org.