The school year hasn't even ended, but 3M Cares and Weigh-Tronix employees are already hard at work preparing for next year's kindergardeners.
The Stuff for School program has begun raising funds to carry out its mission of delivering pencils, pencil cases, folders, notebooks, sleeping mats, tissues, scissors, glue-sticks and crayons to all kindergardeners in Martin County.
Lavonne Bowman, one of the program organizers, said the universal aspect of the donations is the key to the program.
"Each child starts school with the same things," she said.
Knowing their children will not stand out from the others can be a comfort to families that might not be able to buy the supplies required for their young children.
There is plenty of need in the community for the program, based on the statistics.
Fifty-one percent of William Budd Elementary School students qualify for the the government's Free and Reduced Lunch Program. To qualify for free lunches, a family of four must make less than $28,665 annually. For reduced lunches, the income guideline is $40,793 annually.
Bowman said when 3M Cares, a group of retired 3M employees, began the Stuff for School program, there was some uncertainty over whether to include the sleep mats, since they aren't technically a school supply.
According to Bowman, the mats are now one of the most important items the program provides. The mats end up going home with the children at the end of the school year, which is a huge benefit, she said.
"Some children," she said, "we don't know if they have beds at home or not. ... Mr. Truman (William Budd principal) told us some kids only had a cloth to lay their head on (at school)," she said.
Stuff for School costs about $14 per student. The exact number of kindergardeners in the county won't be known until closer to the start of the school year.
Organizers are pressing ahead with fundraising, requesting donations be made by July 31.
Supplies will be delivered to schools and students in the fall.
Checks can be made to S.M.I.F. "Stuff for School" and sent to: Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce, 323 East Blue Earth Avenue, Fairmont, MN 56031.
"People are stepping forward because of the recession and saying to the families, 'We are behind you 100 percent and we will help you in anyway we can.'" Bowman said.