Hello all.
I was thinking that we could start making some positive identifications in the community. since the school year is getting ready to kick off, I would like for us (those willing and able) to donate school supplies to a specific school. Most are title one now so they could use whatever they get
(e.g. paper, pencils, pens, tissues, glue (sticks), baby wipes, etc).

I will be willing to be the focal point for this. If you are willing to make they donations for this, I will provide a few options.

ONE-bring your donations to the 8/18 meet-up
TWO-send me a message here and I will try to make arrangements to get them from you.

The contribution will be made in the name of www.wichitaathiests.com

hope you can help!

I'll try to get a hold of one of our meetup members who would probably have some useful ideas on what would be most needed, and post back here when I find out.

I could bring a sack of school supplies to the meeting in Aug. Would that be OK? Linda

Great Matt! and absolutely yes Linda. If anyone is not sure what to bring... KAKE or KSN or the Wichita Public Schools websites have some of that information
kleenexs
sharpies
pencils
paper
backpacks
baby wipes
erasers
crayons
markers
glue (or glue sticks)
rulers
etc.

I found info about USD 259's supplies donation program on their site (http://www.usd259.com...), and at KAKE's site (http://www.kake.com/s...). It says donations will be accepted through August 10, and distributed from 8/10-8/18. So our timing appears to be a little too late. The other thing to note is that the Salvation Army is the one doing the distributing, so they're the ones who are likely to take credit, regardless of whether the people doing the actual donating are Catholic or even Christian at all.

That's not to say that giving supplies is a bad thing - we're helping out needy kids, after all. But those donations do need to be in by 8/10, and there likely won't be any image polishing opportunity at all for atheists as part of this program.

Anyone who wants to donate can do so at the locations listed in the KAKE link.

If we make the donation specifically to a school they will take them after the deadline. I have already talked with several elementary schools and they would love to have whatever they can get.

I will still collect them at the meeting on the 18th and make the donation in the name of Wichita Atheists!