Education Project looking for school supplies for homeless students

The Education Project is looking for school supplies that can be given to homeless students.

Donations can be dropped off near the front desk in the Teaching and Learning Center at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD), 1819 S. Wagner Road, throughout the summer and school year.

School supplies can also be dropped off at local United Bank and Trust branches from July 26-Sept. 3.

“Every single school district in Washtenaw County identified students who are homeless this school year and the numbers are growing,” said Program Manager Peri Stone-Palmquist. “This is happening in your school. Your neighbors need help so that their children can go to school ready to learn.”

The Education Project is a grant-funded project of WISD that helps more than 600 homeless students enroll, attend and succeed in school each year. It serves students, ages 0-21, including those living in shelters, motels, temporary foster care placements, cars and abandoned houses, as well as those living doubled up temporarily with friends or family. The project works closely with all 10 school districts and nine public school academies in the county, as well as shelters serving families and youth. “Because the office served nearly 40 percent more students this school year, our shelves are particularly bare,” Stone-Palmquist said. “We really hope the community will think of us as they’re out shopping this year.”

School supplies are needed for all ages, including backpacks, pocket folders, notebooks, loose-leaf paper, school supply boxes for younger students, zippered pencil packs for older students, solar-powered calculators, 3-ring binders, colored pencils, markers, highlighters, pens, red pens, protractors, compass, pencil sharpeners, Post-It sticky notes, small tissue packs, day planners, index cards and 5-tab index dividers. No. 2 pencils and crayons are not needed.