July 01, 2017 / In ,

Southwest Human Development hosting Back-to-School Supply Drive with Famous Dave’s, other Valley businesses

This July, Valley Famous Dave’s locations will team up for the third consecutive year to help in a Back-to-School Supply Drive benefiting the children served by Southwest Human Development.

The school supply drive gives the community an opportunity to help children in need begin the school year with all of the tools they need for academic success. Low-income families don’t always have the opportunity to enjoy back-to-school shopping with their children and this initiative will help change that.

The National Retail Federation reports that back-to-school spending in 2016 averages more than $670 per household. For families in low-income neighborhoods, that amount is insurmountable. More than 35 percent of Arizona’s children from birth to age 5 are living in poverty.

“We want to lessen the pressure on some family’s budgets through this school supply drive,” said Annette Sutfin of Southwest Human Development. “With the support of the community and our partners, we hope to collect enough school supplies to provide more than 500 families with what they need for their children to enter school ready to learn.”

New school supplies needed include:

    • Backpacks
    • Spiral notebooks
    • Pencil boxes
    • Scissors
    • Glue sticks
    • Box of pencils
    • Box of pens
    • Box of colored pencils
    • Filler paper
    • Box of crayons
    • 1” binders
    • Pocket folders
    • Rulers
    • Dictionaries
    • Lunch bags

 

The public is encouraged to donate new school supplies to children in need by purchasing them from Southwest Human Development’s online shopping cart, or by dropping supplies off at participating business locations.

Back-to-school items can be dropped off at Southwest Human Development, 2850 N. 24th Street, Phoenix; or at any of the four Valley Famous Dave’s Restaurants: Chandler at 3250 W. Frye Rd.; Peoria at 16148 N. 83rd Ave., San Tan Village in Gilbert at 2206 E. Williams Field Rd. and Mesa Riverview at 1011 Dobson Rd.

As a special incentive during this school supply drive, anyone who not only donates supplies, but also a new, book-size backpack at one of the Valley Famous Dave’s locations, will receive a voucher for a free Smoked Brisket sandwich. One per person.

Additional participating Valley businesses include Keep It Cut, Magellan Rx Management, Kforce, Inc. and Optum. Items donated through Southwest Human Development’s school supply drive online shopping cart are eligible for a dollar-for-dollar Arizona Charitable Tax Credit.

Help Arizona children get off to a great start this school year!

Donate new school supplies online or drop items off at participating business locations.