Photo caption: CCJ Board Prescient Mary Bauer hands CCJ Executive Director Jessi Hans just a handful of the boxes of school supplies distributed at three different district schools.
When school started in early August, hundreds of children received school supplies, including well-stocked backpacks because of a new program initiated by the Coalition for Compassion and Justice (CCJ) in partnership with the Yavapai County Food Bank (YCFB).
This year was unlike previous years, when individual students received modest gifts of school supplies.
Jessi Hans, CCJ executive director, explained, “We shifted our request for donations of school supplies and instead asked for donations of money. The reason—to leverage the money so that we could buy school items in bulk, and get bigger discounts, hence more supplies. It paid off. Instead of getting a few rulers and crayons and scissors, we ordered in bulk and got tremendous deals. More supplies meant more kids benefited.”
CCJ Board President Mary Bauer said she was delighted at the increased support CCJ could give to needy students. “We hope in the future to be able to include every school in every school district.”
Also different this year, three local school district administrators from — Chino Valley School District, Humboldt Unified School District and Prescott Unified School District — each identified a specific school to which donation would go. In Chino Valley, it was the high school. In Prescott Valley, it was Mountain View Elementary School. In Prescott, it was Lincoln Elementary School.
Distribution of items was coordinated by Lynn Passfield from the YCFB.
Hans emphasized that although the distribution deadline has passed, those who want to contribute funds to help purchase more school supplies can do so by contacting her. She can be reached at (928) 445-8382 or at jessi.hans@yavapaiccj.org.
