Fairbury Community Foundation increases school supplies donation during pandemic

FAIRBURY, NE — The first day of school always brings new worries to students and parents. From clothes to classes and an extra emphasis on health this year, there’s no shortage of things to fret about.  One thing students at Fairbury and Meridian Public Schools won’t need to worry about, thanks to the Fairbury Community Foundation, is school supplies.

“We have notebooks, three-ring binders, paper, pencils, pens, colored pencils, erasers, glue sticks - just about everything that the school requires that the kids start the year with,” Fairbury Community Foundation President Don Cook said.

The schools say the only thing parents are expected to provide is a backpack.  Cook says the group wants to help every kid start the year on an even playing field.

“It makes us feel good that we can help the families here and the students in Jefferson County every year,” Cook said.

2020 marks the third year of the program.  It started out with volunteers stuffing about 200 backpacks with supplies. This year, it grew to buying about $6000 worth of supplies for two districts. That's about three times as much as the foundation spent in the first year of the program. Cook says it’s all worth it to hear from parents who are thankful for the help.

“If the backpacks hadn’t of been there, their child would not have had a backpack that year," Cook said. "So, to me, that makes me feel good. We were able to help the child.”

The first day of classes at Fairbury and Meridian is Wednesday.

Cook says the local Black Hills Energy office helps unload, load, and deliver the school supplies every year.  He also thanked TC Energy, Public Health Solutions, American Lutheran Church, First Baptist Church, Laura Alsman and other community donors for their support.