An unemployed single mother of two does the best she can to make ends meet for her son and daughter, but sometimes she needs help.
With less than a month before the Hamilton County school year begins on Aug. 8, the Samaritan Center has come to the rescue.
Dates to remember
› Today-Sunday, July 27-29: Tax-Free Weekend in Tennessee› Saturday, July 28: Back to School Bash, 9 a.m.-noon, Destiny Church, 3801 Brainerd Road. To contribute or for more information, call Portia Cook at 423-405-4332.› Saturday, July 28: Back to School Community Cookout, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., hosted by Glass Farm Block Leaders at 3001 N. Chamberlain Ave.› Saturday, Aug. 4: Rock the Block, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Brainerd Youth and Family Development Center, 1010 N. Moore Road. To donate call Staci Williams at 423-486-7992, Chris Johnson at 423-838-3267 or Shawn Tatum at 423-902-2989.› Saturday, Aug. 4: Parent University, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., First Tennessee Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd.› Wednesday, Aug. 8: First day of school for Hamilton County students.› Tuesday, Aug. 14: Last day of the Samaritan Center’s school assistance program. To schedule an appointment, call 423-238-7777 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday. For more information, go to stocktheirlockers.com.
"This place is a blessing, an absolute blessing," says Amanda Wright.
The 36-year old Ooltewah resident represents hundreds of low-income families that the Samaritan Center seeks to serve.
"It helps because we don't have enough [supplies] when we have to buy [them]," says Wright's 14-year-old daughter, Paige.
Samaritan Center is among several nonprofits, churches and businesses serving Hamilton County families with school supplies. Several have scheduled back-to-school events that offer a fun and festive atmosphere for families when they come to collect supplies.
Destiny Church at 3801 Brainerd Road will host a Back to School Bash from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. The church offers free food, school supplies and uniforms, plus free haircuts for the first 50 boys.
Glass Farm Block Leaders will host an annual Back to School Community Cookout from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 3001 N. Chamberlain Ave. The group asks specifically for the community to help students at Hardy Elementary School.
And City Councilman Russell Gilbert says Rock the Block organizers seek to help at least 1,000 children at their third annual event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 4 at the Brainerd Youth and Family Development Center. The event offers backpacks, school uniforms, supplies, haircuts and hair styling.
Hamilton County Schools has partnered with the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga and First Things First to launch Parent University where they will distribute school supplies. The event is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 4 at First Tennessee Pavilion.
Most places serve all families until supplies run out. The Samaritan Center targets low-income families in East Hamilton County and requires that applicants make an appointment and show proof of income and residence.
Samaritan Center communication director Eddie Schwisow says the center is grateful to serve area families.
"We believe in the children of this community, and we know that many of them are at risk for not having the same advantages as their peers," says Schwisow. "We want every child to have the same advantage starting this school year. It's our privilege to do this.
The Samaritan Center serves low-income families in nine communities: Apison, Birchwood, Collegedale, East Brainerd/Tyner, Georgetown, Harrison, Highway 58/Bonny Oaks, McDonald and Ooltewah.
Monday was the first day of its Stock Their Lockers program, which allows K-12 students to come in for backpacks full of supplies.
Families must call the center at 423-238-7777 to apply for assistance before Aug. 14, when the program ends.
The center helped 330 families with school supplies last year. It hopes to help 350 this year, Schwisow says.
Not having to spend money on school supplies allows money to be available for other things they need like food and clothes, says Paige Wright.
"I'm really thankful for this program and them helping out every kid who needs it," she says.
Seventeen churches and businesses in East Hamilton County coordinated school supply collections for the Samaritan Center. Some churches made donating to the center part of Vacation Bible School.
Schwisow says Samaritan Center officials believe that helping kids succeed in school can lead to breaking the cycle of poverty, improving their future.
"Poverty is something that sometimes starts a generation ahead," says Schwisow. "But education is one way out of poverty."
Contact Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6431.