KYLE — In an effort to continue aiding the community to the best of their abilities, the Kyle Fire Department and Kyle, Buda Kiwanis Club, along with the nonprofit Unforgettable Families and Friends, Hays County ESD #5, the Kyle Area Senior Zone, Buda Police Department, Kyle Police Department and more, are holding their annual school supply drive through the summer months.

Several years ago, when the two organizations noticed a growing need in the school districts, both KFD and Kyle, Buda Kiwanis Club created school supply drives. After hosting their own individual events, they combined efforts in hopes to make a bigger impact.

“One of the big reasons our fire department wanted to get involved is to show the community that, ‘Hey, your local fire department is here to help in anyway we can, rather than calls and all that, we’re here to help with everything,” said firefighter engineer Trent McCarty.

The event aims to provide students with the full list of materials needed for the school year: “We try to come as close to the school supply list as we can, but part of it is that a lot of those schools ask for a large amount of pencils, so we’ll at least try to get a fair amount of those,” said Kiwanis Club President Debbie Cerda. “Kiwanis believes that kids need Kiwanis and our primary focus is education and literacy,” said Cerda. “[We don’t want kids] going without having the bare [minimum] in school, like pencils and such. It’s not just about the physical aspect, but it’s also confidence and self-esteem. Those children don’t want to be that child who’s showing up without anything.”

Past events have led the organizations to recognize that the biggest need is elementary-aged students, but all donations are encouraged. For those in high school without an official list, as each teacher dictates what is needed, basic supplies, such as composition notebooks, college-ruled paper and pencils are often given. Though, the items that are the most expensive that are often needed are calculators and backpacks, both of which typically run out first.

The Hays CISD school supply list includes the following:

• 24-count Crayola crayons

• Crayola classic color makers

• Watercolors

• Composition books

• #2 sharpened pencils

• Scissors

• Glue stickers

• Wired headphones

• Hand sanitizer

• Clorox wipes

• School supply box

• Tissues

• Solid color plastic folders with brads

• Black dry erase markers

• Notebook paper

• Spiral notebooks

• Ruler

• Highlighters

• Ziploc bags (quart and gallon size)

• Large pink erasers

• Index cards

Donation drop boxes are located throughout both Kyle and Buda. Key locations include: the Kyle Fire Department Station 1, located at 210 W. Moore St.; Buda City Hall, located at 405 E. Loop St. and the Kyle Market Day booth on July 13. Collections will continue through July 28. KFD will also be holding events throughout the summer, such as a Touch-a-Truck, which will have donation bins, as well.

With a total of 417 children in 2023, KFD and Kiwanis Club has a goal of 500 this year. To sign up, community members can visit bit.ly/3z6kVvC at 8 a.m. on June 20 to fill out an application, which will help determine what supplies are needed. The form will close once it has reached 500 sign-ups, but a waitlist will be available after.

“Regardless of what we collect — if it doesn’t get used, if it’s not part of that list — we’re going to donate everything,” said McCarty.

Distribution will be from 8 a.m. to noon on Aug. 3, with a second date on Aug. 4 for those who are waitlisted or walk-ups.

“It’s our job, as adults of the community, to help grow the community [and] maintain and ensure that it is getting what it needs,” concluded McCarty.

To become a sponsor, donate, host a donation bin or learn more information about the event, visit bit.ly/3z6kVvC or email school-supplies@kylebudakiwanis.org.