SEATTLE — Bartell Drugs has kicked off its annual "School Tools for Kids in Need" program to collect school supplies for financially disadvantaged students.
The program, the Seattle-area drug chain’s seventh, runs through Aug. 29 at all 58 Bartell drug stores and is being done in tandem with Federal Way, Wash.-based World Vision.
Bartell said Wednesday that World Vision enables Puget Sound-area teachers with students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch programs to "shop" for school supplies for those children free at its Teacher Resource Center.
The drug chain noted that the three-week school supply drive is key since the back-to-school period is under way and 58,000 local children could start the school year without basic school supplies. Basic needs list suggestions in Bartell’s "School Aisles" include rulers, pencils, pens, glue and glue sticks, erasers, binders, crayons, tape and highlighter markers.
Bartell added that the WNBA’s Seattle Storm pro women’s basketball team be helping to raise awareness of the program for students in need at a "Back-to-School Night" game on Aug. 21, where the drug chain and World Vision will be on hand to collect donations of school supplies.
