Do the write thing - #lakewoodnews

Many organizations provide students with school supplies at the beginning of the year, but as most teachers know, those supplies rarely last the whole year.

"I taught at Stein Elementary for 29 years, and before winter break we would have our students do a school supply inventory," former teacher David Harris said. "We would send lists of what the students were out of home as Christmas gifts ideas for parents."

To combat this lack of supplies, particularly in schools with a large student population who participate in the free and reduced lunch program, the Kiwanis Club of Alameda West had an idea: Why not do a second supply giveaway after winter break?

And that's how The Write Stuff program was born.

"We started this in 2010 at Stein and Eiber elementary," said Bob Zachman, a member of the Alameda West Kiwanis. "Over the years we've added schools and other clubs to help us."

In addition to Alameda West, Kiwanis of Applewood, Arvada-Jefferson, Belmar, Golden, Green Mountain, Lakewood and Wheat Ridge now participate in The Write Stuff. The elementary schools that receive supplies in addition to Stein and Eiber are Arvada K-8, Lumberg and Edgewater in Edgewater, Pleasant View in Golden, Molholm in Lakewood and Stevens in Wheat Ridge.

"This year, we had 35 to 40 members of different clubs helping us pack all these supplies," said Annette Lana, Write Stuff packing manager. "By doing this, we're able to prevent teachers from having to spend their own money on supplies."

The organization provided more than 3,700 students with supplies so far this year.

The money for supplies came from the clubs, a grant from the Rocky Mountain District Foundation and a fundraiser at 240 Union Restaurant. The Kiwanis work with The Action Center, a Jefferson County nonprofit that helps low-income and homeless families attain financial stability,to store the materials and provide a place to pack the supplies when the time comes.

As Harris, now coordinator of the program, explains, the supplies are purchased in September when they are on sale and packing begins in November. Items are delivered the first week after winter break.

Among the items students receive are paper, pens, crayons and colored pencils. Zachman said retailers like Target and Office Depot have been instrumental in providing discounts to help the groups purchase as many supplies as possible.

"The reaction of the kids when they get the supplies is the best," Lana said. "You'd think they were having a second Christmas."

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