School supply drive in full swing

The first day of school is always better with a new backpack full of fresh supplies—but those supplies are often hard to come by for some Northern New Mexico families. That’s why Los Alamos National Laboratory, together with eight local partners, is sponsoring a Back to School Drive.

“Nowadays parents are tasked with buying so many items in addition to ‘traditional’ school supplies,” says drive organizer Janelle Vigil-Maestas. “It gets to be a big burden, especially for parents who have multiple children. If we can lessen that burden, why not do it?”

Through August 9, area residents are encouraged to give a backpack filled with school supplies or to donate toward the purchase of a shoe card—either option should be approximately $25 in value. To make contributions go farther, take advantage of New Mexico’s tax-free weekend on August 5–7. All donations are tax deductible.

Donate a backpack filled with much-needed school supplies. Pencils, three-ring binders, notebooks, scissors, crayons, calculators, and hand sanitizers are just a few of the items kids need to get off to a good start this school year.

Backpacks should be filled with school supplies from this list and dropped off at the Lab’s Community Programs Office (1619 Central Avenue, Los Alamos) or at any Del Norte Credit Union in Santa Fe, Española, Los Alamos, or White Rock. Checks for a shoe card should be made out to Back to School Drive and mailed to the LANL Treasury Office, Mail Stop P231, Los Alamos, NM, 87545.

The goal for 2016 is to distribute 700 backpacks full of materials to students who need them in Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Mora, San Miguel, Sandoval, and Taos counties. Contributions are organized through each school’s counselor, which means supplies and shoes will go to students who most need them.

For more information, please contact the Community Partnerships Office at 505-665-4400.