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Baldwinsville School District Holds School Supply Drive Baldwinsville School District Holds Annual School Supply Drive This Week

Teachers and administrators say it's about more than just getting good grades.

By Paolo Confino

Ray Middle School in Baldwinsville, NY on sunny day.
© 2021 Paolo Confino

BALDWINSVILLE, N.Y. (NCC News) — The Baldwinsville Central School District will host its fourth annual School Supply Drive starting this Thursday, August 12th from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Last year the school district had to adjust its usual plans by sending out an electronic request form rather than hosting an in person drop off. It still received over 300 requests for school supplies which it fulfilled.

“If you’re coming and you’re in need, we’re community partners and we want to help everybody,” said Kristen LaMacchia, who spearheads the effort.

LaMacchia started as a school psychologist and now has an administrative role as Director of Pupil and Personnel. She said that in past years the school district had a store of school supplies for students who needed any, but no formal process for collection and distribution. The school recognized that providing families with an easy way to access the supplies, should they need them, helped students start the school year with their best foot forward.

“If they didn’t have that bus school supply drive, they wouldn’t necessarily have everything that everybody else had,” said Noel Penafeather, a special education teacher at Van Buren Middle School.  “Then that sets that school year off on a rough foot for those poor little ones that are having a hard time.”

Since the drive’s second year the school district has implemented a universal supply list for each grade. In an effort to help facilitate the process and make sure students all had the same supplies once classes started. Which ultimately has affects beyond the classroom.

“It makes them excited to come to school, right?” said LaMacchia. “Like that cool backpack they get and so we really try to give them each a backpack to go with their supplies just because you can see when they get their supplies and their backpack how excited they are.”

The school district serves over 5,500 students, across eight different schools. Donations should be dropped off at the Baldwinsville District Operations Building at the following times:

  • 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 12
  • 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 13
  • 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 16
  • 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 17

Paolo Confino: The school district’s fourth annual School Supply Drive will start on Thursday. Last year they had over 300 requests for pens, pencils, notebooks, even backpacks.
Director of Pupil and Personnel Services, Karrie LaMacchia, says it’s about more than just helping students get good grades.

LaMacchia: It makes them excited to come to school, right? Like that cool backpack they get and so we really try to give them each a backpack to go with their supplies just because you can see when they get their supplies and their backpack how excited they are. !”>

Confino: Noël Penafeather, a special education teacher at Van Buren Middle School, says for some students its a way to start the year off right.

Penafeather: If they didn’t have that bus school supply drive they wouldn’t necessarily have everything that everybody else had and then that sets that school year off on a rough foot for those poor little ones that are having a hard time.

Confino: You can drop donations off at the District Operations Building by Durgee Junior High. Paolo Confino, N-C-C News.

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