United Way of Northern NJ needs school supplies for kids

MORRISTOWN– United Way of Northern New Jersey is seeking help from volunteers and donations of new school supplies for its annual United Way Tools for School drive.

The drive will benefit more than 11,000 elementary and middle school children of ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and families in poverty throughout the northern New Jersey region.

United Way is making it easier to make donations by partnering with YouGiveGoods.com, which allows donors to make an online purchase of supplies that will be delivered automatically to United Way. Donations can be made by visiting www.UnitedWayNNJ.org/ToolsforSchool.

Donations will be accepted throughout the five-county region of Morris, Suburban Essex, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties. The following is a list of drop-off locations in the local area:

Morris County: Friday, Aug. 24, from 9 to 11:30 a.m., United Way office, 222 Ridgedale Ave., in Cedar Knolls.

Sussex County: Thursday, Aug. 30, from 9 to 11 a.m., United Way office, 2 Spring St., in Newton.

Warren County: Thursday, Aug. 16, from 9 a.m. to noon, Taylor Street School, 16/24 Taylor St., in Washington.

United Way is collecting: backpacks, lunch boxes, binders, three-ring notebooks, book covers, filler paper, pocket folders, composition and spiral notebooks, index cards, calculators, pencils, pencil cases, pencil sharpeners, erasers, pens, highlighters, crayons, markers, colored pencils, construction paper, glue, tape, rulers, dry erase markers, and scissors. In addition, school nurses have asked for personal care items such as toothbrushes, deodorant, Band-Aids, and kindergarten and first grade-aged children’s underwear and socks. Gift cards that can be used to purchase items such as shoes and clothing are also appreciated.

For more information about donations, holding a United Way Tools for School drive, or to volunteer with sorting supplies, visit www.UnitedWayNNJ.org/ToolsforSchool, email Lisa.Galonardo@UnitedWayNNJ.org or call 973.993.1160, x503.