By SCOTT MCKIE B.P.
ONE FEATHER STAFF
A partnership between the Cherokee Community Club Council and the Office of the Principal Chief is helping provide school supplies and book bags for young EBCI students.
“This is a collaborative effort and partnership with the community clubs,” said Principal Chief Richard G. Sneed. “Our office will provide half of the supplies and bags, and the Community Club Council has agreed to provide the other half in an effort to make sure that all Cherokee youth are provided for. Our purpose in conducting the book bag drive this year in this manner is to strengthen the mission of the community clubs.”
In all, 720 Urban Sport 18-inch U-Pocket backpacks have been purchased as well as 648 school supply kits which will include the following: four double pocket folders in assorted colors, two one-subject spiral notebooks in assorted colors, one composition notebook, one pencil pouch (available in assorted colors), one 12-inch ruler (available in assorted colors), one pack of four pens (blue and black), one pack of four colored pencils, one pack of four pencils, one blunt-tip scissors, four erasers, two glue sticks, one pack of five crayons, one dome sharpener (available in assorted colors), and three highlighters (available in assorted colors).
Community Clubs will distribute the book bags and supplies on the following dates:
- Big Cove: Tuesday, July 31 at 6pm at Nazarene Church
- Big Y: Monday, Aug. 6 at 6pm at Big Y Gym
- Birdtown: Thursday, Aug. 2 at 5pm at Birdtown Gym
- Cherokee County: Monday, Aug. 13 at 4pm at Cherokee County Community Building
- Snowbird: Thursday, Aug. 9 at 6pm at Snowbird Center
- Towstring: Monday, July 30 at 6pm at Tow String Community Building
- Wolftown: Thursday, Aug. 2 at 5pm at Wolftown Gym
- Yellowhill: Monday, Aug. 6 at 5pm at Yellowhill Activity Center
- Painttown: No date has been provided
Community members are appreciating the collaboration.
“Our community of Big Y has actually been giving out school supplies for several years before the initiative came up with the Chief’s office, so we were happy to see this program started,” said Trudy Crowe, Big Y Community Club. “With the additional resources we are able to ensure that every child who needs a book bag and supplies in our community receive them. We also increased the supplies that we are able to give out so that all youth start to school with everything that they need. This partnership makes it easier for smaller communities like Big Y to do more for families. Our community does fund raisers throughout the year for events like this, and this helps us out tremendously with some of the financial burden.”
She went on to say, “We want the families and students of our community to know that a community is more than just the location of your home, it is a support system for families.”
Tammy Jackson, Wolftown Community Club, said the program is very beneficial in her community as well. “The school supply initiative gives the children the tools to help them be successful in the classroom and also boosts their self-esteem by being prepared with the same materials as their peers. When we first started doing this, we wanted to help parents who needed assistance purchasing supplies for their child or children and we gave out 45 bags. Today, that number has tripled. Our partnership with the Chief’s office helps offset the costs for the community clubs to have this event and it creates a good working relationship with the Chief and his staff. We are very grateful for the effort they put into doing this for our communities.”
