July 14, 2008
Brandon Haught
Public Information Office

VOLUSIA DEPUTIES COLLECTING BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR DISADVANTAGED YOUNGSTERS

 

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office will be helping dozens of less fortunate children head back to school toting new book bags, notebooks, pens and pencils through the department's annual back-to-school supply drive that is now under way. The drive is an extension of the 19-year-old 100 Deputies/100 Kids holiday program. The school supplies will be distributed to students identified through their schools as being economically disadvantaged. (NOTE: All distribution is conducted through the local school system. Parents shouldn't contact the Sheriff's Office to ask to be placed on the distribution list. A list of the schools that will be receiving the supplies will be made available prior to the start of the school year.)

 

The goal of the drive is to collect enough supplies to have glue, scissors, pens, pencils, notebooks and paper to supply economically disadvantaged youths at eight Volusia County schools. These items may be dropped off at any Sheriff's district office in DeLand, Deltona, DeBary, New Smyrna Beach or Holly Hill as well as the Sheriff's administrative offices at 123 W. Indiana Ave. in DeLand. "The response from the community in the past years and from Sheriff's Office personnel has been very generous," said Sheriff Ben Johnson. "Children from needy families deserve to go to school with the same materials as their classmates and friends."

 

The 100 Deputies/100 Kids program, which began as a large Christmas party with dinner and gifts of toys and clothing, has now evolved into a year-round mission of helping to meet the needs of hundreds of disadvantaged youngsters. "Through projects such as this, we're able to supply economically disadvantaged children with adequate school supplies and elevate their self-esteem through something most of us take for granted -- having the tools to make learning fun," said Sheriff Johnson. More information can be obtained by contacting Judie Edwards at (386) 254-4602 in the Daytona Beach area, (386) 736-5989 in the West Volusia area or (386) 423-3352 in the New Smyrna Beach area.