Tomorrow, an annual drive to collect school supplies for low-income students will begin. The Rock Island School District is once again sponsoring the First Day Project to deliver notebooks, pens, and other items. Spokeswoman Holly Sparkman says there are over 2,500 students who need extra help getting ready for school. District residents can place donations in a bag by their mailbox tomorrow and the mail carriers will collect them.
"Rock Island, we start school registration next week, and our first day of school is the first week of August. We could really use that push before we start school registration."
The district is also looking for volunteers to sort and deliver supplies to students from kindergarten through high school.
"When the school supplies get to the schools at registration, there's definitely a lot of hugs, lot of hugs from kids because they really get excited when they have new school supplies. That's in and of itself a small reward."
Some Walgreens stores in the Quad Cities will also host "Pack the Bus" events this Sunday, July 20th, where residents can donate school supplies or money. The Rock Island Kiwanis club, United Way, and the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend participate in the First Day Project every year.