By Jackie Drake
The Daily Reflector
Wednesday, July 28, 2010

As August quickly approaches, Pitt County residents are starting to prepare to go back to school.

For those who don’t have a lot of money to shop for school supplies, there are donation drives, which are beginning to get under way this time of year.

Ashley Furniture HomeStores of Eastern North Carolina are sponsoring a school supply drive for Pitt, Onslow and Carteret county school districts. Through Aug. 20, individuals can visit Ashley Furniture locations in Greenville, Jacksonville and Morehead City and drop off new school supplies.

For each purchase of $699 or more, the stores will donate a backpack with $70 worth of school supplies to the district.

“We are always looking for ways to give back to the communities in eastern North Carolina,” Tony Howell, owner of three Ashley Furniture HomeStores, said. “Creating this school supply donation drive seemed like a great idea, and we’re hoping for great success with it.”

Travis Lewis, Pitt County Schools executive director of Student Services, noted the importance of business and community support of students.

“Each year families in Pitt County struggle to provide the supplies needed for their children to begin a new school year,” Lewis said. “We are very fortunate to have the support of many area businesses and organizations in helping fill the back-to-school supply needs of our students. We truly appreciate the new partnership formed with Ashley Furniture in this regard and hope to continue it for years to come.”

The Ashley Furniture HomeStore in Greenville is located at 1975 SE Greenville Blvd.

The United Way of Pitt County also is conducting a school supply drive. The theme “raise your hand for education” focuses on the importance of giving students the tools they need to succeed in school. All supplies collected will be distributed equally throughout the county. Donations may be brought to the UWPC office at 226 W. Eighth St., Suite B, through Aug. 16.

The little bank also is holding a school supply drive.

All six little bank branches in the state, including one in Greenville, will have a collection box for supplies for their area schools. This is the little bank’s first school supply drive.

“We are looking forward to helping the school system this year,” Nanci Hollar with the Greenville branch said. For more information on the little bank drive, call Hollar at 317-2819.

All donations received by the district are distributed by school social workers to children in need, including those who have been identified to be homeless, according to PCS officials. A list of recommended school supplies is available on the PCS website.