By BEAU BROCKETT JR.

beau.brockett@leaderpub.com

NILES — Three local organizations are working to make the school year successful from the start for area children by supplying them with school necessities ahead of the new school year.

Each organization said that its  school supply drives will also help minimize financial burdens on teachers, many of whom spend their own money on school supplies for their students.

Chalet of Niles

Chalet of Niles, a nursing and rehabilitation center at 911 S. Third St. in Niles, puts on different fundraisers each month for community and health causes.

As school is right around the corner, staff members Ariel Paholski and Casey Bailey thought a school supply drive would make a great August event.

“It’s beneficial to not only benfit the teachers, but the students in need,” Bailey said. “The teachers spend a lot of their own money as well, so we’re hopefully making it easier for them financially.”

So, they teamed up with Martin’s Super Market to host the July 29 to Sept. 1 event. Each Friday, the two set up a donation booth in the store. People can buy school supply items then drop them off.

“Since Martin’s has been so nice letting us partner with them, any donations we get, we’ve been spending it here as well,” Paholski said.

Chalet of Niles will match every donated item.

All donations will be split evenly among students or teachers of Merritt Elementary, of Brandywine Community Schools, and Ballard Elementary, of Niles Community Schools. Chalet of Niles is still working with school leadership to determine the best means of distributing the supplies.

As of last Friday, Chalet of Niles had collected 450 items from its Martin’s location or from drop-offs at the center.

“We like to involve the community as much as possible and give back when we can,” Bailey said “It’s fun for the employees and residents.”

Niles District Library

Rather than sending school supplies directly to students, Caryn Adler and other staff of the Niles District Library’s school supply drive will allow teachers to come and choose the supplies their classrooms need most.

As of last Thursday, the library had collected 1,100 items for Niles and Brandywine Community Schools. Once their teachers pick their supplies after the supply drive ends Aug. 31, teachers of St. Mary’s Catholic Schools, Northside Development Center and Seventh Day Adventist will be able to pick up supplies.

“It won’t do the teachers any good to have stuff in our basement,” Adler said. “Our goal is to get it and get rid of it.”

While supply drive attendees can drop off all sorts of school supplies at the Niles District Library, they can also drop off items at one following locations: Veni’s Sweet Shop, Millin Automotive Repair, Shelf Life Bookstore, Healthy Habits, Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Iron Shoe Distillery and Brew Ha Ha.

Adler said school drives are great not only for students in need, but for teachers, whom often pay for supplies on their own.

“I know the quality of teachers and how much they care for their kids,” she said. “They give up their own time, and so it didn’t surprise me at all how much teachers give out of their own pocket because I know the kind of heart they have for their students.”

Salvation Army

For Tim Douglass, volunteer coordinator of the Salvation Army of Niles, creating a school supply drive was faith-driven.

“We believe that one of the main services of the Army itself, as a Christian organization, is stated best in [the book of] Matthew, where Christ tells us to feed the hungry, to serve those who are in need,” he said.

Until Sept. 19, people can donate school supplies to the Salvation Army. Then, volunteers will pack the supplies in backpacks and distribute them to Niles area students in Berrien County Sept. 22 and Cassopolis Public Schools students the next day.

Salvation Army of Niles has long hosted school drives, but this was its first year partnering with Walmart for Stuff the Bus, a national Salvation Army effort. Douglass and other volunteers spent the day collecting donations at Walmart on Aug. 3, which he said saw great turnout.

“It makes it very enjoyable and very worthwhile when we see the community getting behind the programs, helping us fulfill our mission, which is to help those that need the help,” he said.

While the local chapter is seeking traditional school supplies — such as pencils, three-ringed binders and glues — it is also seeking the non-traditional — such as paper towel and hand sanitizers.

Those with supplies on their hands can donate at the Salvation Army’s 424 N. 15th St. location in Niles or at Niles’ Chemical Bank, Four Flags Area Credit Union, Greater Niles Federal Credit Union and United Federal Credit Union.