Local businesses support CSRA students with school boost

Students in Columbia and Richmond Counties head back to class on Thursday, Aug. 5. That means families across the CSRA are hitting local stores to buy school supplies, which may not be affordable for all parents and students.

Several local businesses have stepped up to sponsor back-to-school events to collect and give away school supplies to needy families. Here’s a list of some of those events.

• • • The Hawk Law Group and Alison South Marketing will host the second annual Fit 4 School event on Saturday, July 31 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the James Brown Arena. At the event, local students will receive school supplies, haircuts, and snacks. “Many families in Augusta need help when it’s time to go back to school,” says Reid Sanders, attorney with the Hawk Law Group. “We are happy to be able to be a sponsor of such a worthwhile cause and to ease the burden for some local students.”

      

    • Jonathan English – Insurance agent with State Farm in Evans – will collect school supplies specifically for students in Columbia County on Saturday, July 31 and Saturday, Aug. 7 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in front of the Evans Walmart. English wants members of the community to donate various school supplies, including backpacks, binders, composition notebooks, and scientific calculators. He says 31% of Columbia County students qualify for free or reduced lunch. For those who can’t make it to either collection day, donations can also be dropped off at English’s office located at 4443 Washington Road.
    • The Augusta GreenJackets team is partnering with WOW! and SRP Federal Credit Union to collect school supplies for the United Way of the CSRA’s annual Stuff the Bus campaign. Fans can drop off supplies at the team’s game against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on Sunday, Aug. 1. The game starts at 5:05 p.m.This is the third year the baseball club is working with the campaign and its corporate sponsors, according to Tom Denlinger, GreenJackets vice president. “We’re very fortunate,” says Denlinger. “Our fans, season ticket holders, and sponsors are very giving.” He explains they typically collect a truckload of supplies to give the United Way, which gives away supplies to students throughout the CSRA. “We’re built on partnering with the community in different ways,” Denlinger states.
    • Aiken Technical College will host the sixth annual Back to School Bookbag drive on Saturday, Aug. 7 from 9 a.m. to noon. All K-12 students who attend will receive free backpacks and school supplies, such as notebooks, binders, pens, and paper. Sponsors for this event include Target and Duke’s Bar-B-Que in Aiken.