ALLEGHENY CO., Pa. — In a few weeks, thousands of students in the Pittsburgh area will start the school year online, but some don’t have all the supplies they need to be successful.
With the COVID-19 pandemic putting a financial strain on many families, one local mother decided to organize a supply drive.
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“There’s been a significant increase, which I think we’ve all seen, in people struggling with job loss and stress,” said Jennifer Penrod.
Penrod’s co-organizers said to put the need for basic supplies into perspective, just look at the increase in traffic at their food pantry since the coronavirus started. They said they were initially serving 10-15 residents per week, and that number ballooned to more than 500.
Organizers told Channel 11 they received $500 worth of supplies before the supply drive even kicked off.
“Every child should have the opportunity to have that box of crayons, right? Have that pencil, to have a great start and feel like they can accomplish anything with the school year,” Penrod said.
And one of the high-demand items this year is a tool specifically important for online learning: headphones. They’re useful because they can tune out the noise around them and focus on school work.
Some of the standard school supplies are still needed, such as pencils, highlighters, calculators, notebooks and other items.
Organizers said all of the supplies will be available for pick-up at the West View Hub during the first week of school.
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