The Mount Carmel Baptist Church

Hello! It's that time of year again. The children are busy enjoying their summer vacation, but the parents (and grandparents) are already trying to figure out how to purchase all of the items on those school supply lists.

My name is Donna McClue. I am a retired public school teacher (30+ years) and a member of The Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in New Orleans, Louisiana. The cost of just about everything has gone up. It's getting harder and harder to make ends meet.

Each August families struggle to purchase school supplies for their children. Trying to obtain even the very basic supplies can be a burden if the family has more than one child in school. Acquiring all of the items on the school supply list can cost anywhere from $75 to $300. Some schools are asking families to provide everything from Kleenex to Hand Sanitizer. And don't forget that a lot of schools also require families to purchase uniforms.

Now is not the time for us to slow down or take a break. Last year, with the money raised with go fund me and donations from the church, we were able to help 65 families in the community. Everyone was so appreciative. Our goal again this year is to help 100 families acquire the basic supplies. We want to provide backpacks, folders, paper, pencils, pens, crayons, glue, scissors, rulers, and pencil cases. We believe every child should start school with the tools necessary for learning.