School Supplies

Classes start Monday, Aug. 22 for all students in Prince George's County public school. School officials are encouraging parents to walk their child to school or the school bus stop on the first day. An inaugural Back-to-School Fair will be held on Saturday, Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, 7601 Hanover Pkwy., in Greenbelt. The event is open to all county students, teachers, staff, parents, community leaders and county agencies. The fair will provide parents and students with access to the resources needed for a successful school year.

Former Maryland standout Moise Fokou was back in College Park today for a charity cooking event. Fokou, now a Tennessee Titans linebacker, was joined by Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson and local chefs at Comcast Center's Heritage Hall for a cooking demonstration that taught kids how to prepare healthy food. Fokou created the Root 53 Foundation last summer to help underprivileged youth by donating school supplies, holding events that promote education, football camps and more.

ISSUE: The days shorten, the locusts' buzzing reaches a crescendo, and youngsters master the art of sleeping later and later - all indications that the start of the school year is near. The school year opens in Harford County in two weeks, on Aug. 29. One vivid illustration that school is right around the corner can be found in the school supplies aisle of most local discount stores. It's the time of summer when many parents and their children clog the lanes, trying to beat the rush (too late!

Shepherd's Staff thanks school supply donors The Board of Directors of The Shepherd's Staff wishes to express its sincere appreciation to the individuals, civic organizations, local businesses, and churches which have generously contributed to our annual Back to School Campaign. Last August, more than 600 children were assisted. Just six weeks ago, we had less than $5,000 to purchase backpacks, shoes, and school supplies for the children we serve. Anticipating a similar need for the upcoming school year, we feared turning children away.

Four fifth-graders at Atholton Elementary School this week donated more than $225 and a truckload of school supplies, clothing and canned food to Grassroots Inc., a nonprofit social service agency in Howard County.The students -- Christina Naude, Jennifer Perkins, Rachel Nicholson and Avram Gottschlich -- raised the money and collected the donations as part of a yearlong project to help the homeless, said AlainaBeth Haerbig, one of the school's gifted-and-talented teachers.The money and other goods were given to Grassroots on Monday night during Atholton's enrichment fair.

The city will host its annual Back to School Rally Tuesday from 3 to 8 p.m., at the public school system's headquarters, 200 E. North Ave.. An estimated 4,000 students and their parents are expected to attend. Students can receive free immunizations, health screenings and school supplies, meet with city representatives, get information about family services and listen to live music. There will also be free haircuts for boys, treats for girls and giveaways for families. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is scheduled to attend from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., along with other elected officials and R&B singer Mario, to motivate students.

After her husband died, Barbara Austin said she couldn't afford school supplies for her son and stepson. She looked for deals in the weekly advertisements, but rarely found items that were affordable, she said. So when the Westminster resident heard about a program that gives out free school supplies, she signed up. "I'm low on money, so there are some things that I just can't do right now," said Austin, who lives on Social Security benefits. "If this program didn't exist, my kids wouldn't get some of the things they need for school."

Jean Buttitta wanted to find a way to have students in her Spanish classes at Fallston High School connect with children in a Spanish-speaking country. The answer came to her when she heard on the radio that Cal Ripken Jr. and Dennis Martinez were visiting Nicaragua to teach baseball to about 500 children and 100 coaches. She contacted the State Department to get details, and then she and more than 300 Fallston High students started a collection of school supplies that will be delivered by Ripken and Martinez during their trip.

For most students and their parents, the school year starts with a rush to buy the necessary supplies and containers to hold them. But some families may find it difficult to afford all of the equipment their youngsters need for class.So the West Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce is launching a drive to collect school supplies from its members and distribute them to schools in Gambrills, Odenton, Severn, Jessup and other areas in the western part of the county."We wanted to choose a project that would really help the students and an educational project, because that is a major focus in our community affairs committee," said Marcia Hall, executive director of the chamber.

The Shepherd's Staff, a faith-based nonprofit organization in Westminster, is holding its annual back-to-school program. For the past 10 years, one of The Shepherd's Staff's major community service projects has been to provide children in need with school supplies, shoes, backpacks, clothing and haircut vouchers (while supplies last). Executive Director Kathy Brown said the TownMall of Westminster has placed a Little Red School House in Center Court for anyone to drop off school supplies for the project.