School has just ended for many students around Arizona, but it’s never too early to think about how we can help kids to start the new school year ready to succeed.

For many Arizona children, the time to go back to school is one of excitement and anticipation.  For others, it is a time of anxiety – because their families cannot afford to buy them basic school supplies.

Beginning June 25, through my “Pack to School” program, state employees and community members can provide these children with not only the tools they will need to succeed in the classroom, but also the sense of excitement that comes with getting new things and preparing for a new school year.

Again this year, the Governor’s Office will partner with the Salvation Army to collect school supplies for underprivileged children statewide. Last year, we met our goal of collecting and distributing school supplies to 7,500 children across Arizona – an increase of 44% from the previous year.

We are also teaming up with Sleep America, Mountainside Fitness, and Freescale Semiconductor for this year’s supply drive. Anyone wishing to help the effort can drop off supplies at any Sleep America or Mountainside Fitness location statewide. State employees can also bring donations to work and leave them in collection boxes.

The school supply collection runs through Friday, August 3. Items needed include:

n     no. 2 pencils and erasers

n     nontoxic paints

n     spiral notebooks, portfolio binders and loose-leaf paper

n     activity books

n     rulers, blunt scissors, and glue sticks

n     calculators

n     crayons and makers

n      backpacks

n      age-appropriate dictionaries and thesauruses.

If you have any questions about the drive, feel free to contact my office at 1-800-253-0883 and ask to speak to Constituent Services.