You Can Help Give Children In Somerset County A Good Start In School

By Somerset County

Somerset County Freeholder Deputy Director Patricia Walsh reminds residents, businesses and organizations that the county Commission on the Status of Women (SCCSW) is continuing to collect donated school supplies through Aug. 3. The annual “Project First Class” initiative benefits children of families served by the Food Bank Network of Somerset County.

NEW school supplies – such as notebooks, three-ring binders, paper, highlighters, markers, pens, pencils and crayons – will be accepted along with new or gently-used backpacks.

Donations may be dropped off to the Somerset County Freeholders’ Office on the third floor of the county administration building at 20 Grove St., Somerville, now through Monday, Aug. 3. The office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free parking is available in the adjacent Bernie Field Parking Deck off East High Street.

Donations also may be dropped off Wednesday, July 29, from 4:30 to 6 p.m., at the Somerset County Clerk’s Office, located on the first floor of the administration building. The Warren Township Library on Mountain Boulevard in Warren also is collecting the donations during their regular business hours.

“Many families are struggling to make ends meet, and for them, school supplies are unaffordable,” said Freeholder Walsh, commission liaison. “We hope that individuals, organizations and businesses once again will support Project First Class and help these children get a good start in school this fall.”

Project First Class co-chairs this year are Commission members Smriti Agrawal and Janice Fields. For more information, email them at sccswomen@gmail.com

The SCCSW serves as an advisory board to the Board of Chosen Freeholders to address present and potential needs of women and to develop a greater public awareness of women’s issues.

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