News Headlines
Source: Messenger, Madisonville, July 28, 2010
More families seek assistance with back-to-school needs
By Lori Harrison
Several low-income families will get a break on back-to-school expenses, thanks to Pennyrile Allied Community Services-Hopkins County Assistance Center.
Families started picking up clothing at the center on Tuesday.
“If they bring the appropriate paperwork, they’re getting five brand new outfits,” said PACS-HCAC director Bobbi Ann Wilcox. Each child also receives five new pairs of underwear and socks.
This year, 440 students preregistered for the agency’s Back to School Program.
That’s an increase from 170 last year.
Families whose last names start with A-E were expected at the center on Tuesday. Today’s pickup is for F-J. Thursday is for K-O; Friday, P-T; and Aug. 3, U-Z.
“Last year, we did three new outfits,” Wilcox said. “The year before that, we only did two.”
The expansion “has been harder on us than anticipated,” she said.
Organizers picked up three truckloads of clothing Monday from Vanity Fair Outlet in Hanson, she said.
“And I’m going back this afternoon to get another one,” Wilcox said.
The agency exceeded its $10,000 fundraising goal, bringing in more than $15,000. That included more than $7,000 donated in response to requests posted on Facebook.
“I got money from Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and Alabama,” she said.
Most out-of-state donors were former Hopkins County residents.
“One of the guys who made a pledge said even though he doesn’t live here any more, his heart’s still in Hopkins County, and he wants to support it as much as he can,” Wilcox said.
When families preregistered, they filled out a form with sizes of their children, ages preschool to high school senior.
The outfits are packed in advance.
“If it’s James Madison (Middle School), we try to do the five-pocket jeans,” Wilcox said. “We try to do our best with the dress code.”
A Madisonville woman picking up clothes Tuesday afternoon for her grandson, who will soon start first grade, said the Back to School Program helps a lot.
“Things are too high now, and it’s just crazy,” said Jennifer, who declined to give her last name.
People who didn’t preregister for the Back to School Program may go to the Branch Street center on Aug. 4.
They need to provide proof of income for July and Social Security cards for everyone in the household. This will enable them to get up to two new outfits per child, if the sizes are available.
“The community and out-of-state monetary donations really helped this year,” Wilcox said. “Money’s still coming in.”