Back-to-school supply drive to help homeless families in Jacksonville

121 Financial Credit Union has launched a summertime Back-to-School Supply Drive in partnership with Sulzbacher, a provider of health, housing and income services for people experiencing homelessness.

Through Saturday, Aug. 5, 121 Financial Credit Union and Sulzbacher invite the community to donate school supplies, classroom supplies or complete, ready-to-use backpacks at any 121 Financial Credit Union branch location. Sulzbacher is also in need of $50 gift cards to Old Navy to help families pay for school uniforms. Needed supplies and branch locations are listed below.

The supply drive will benefit the children and families who Sulzbacher serves as they prepare for the 2023-2024 school year and any child in need who lives near the Sulzbacher Village campus in the Brentwood neighborhood.

“We want to do our part to help ensure that every child in our community starts the first day of school with the necessary materials to learn and grow,” said David Marovich, chief executive officer for 121 Financial Credit Union. “Particularly for children experiencing homelessness or poverty, having fresh new school supplies to start the school year makes a huge difference in confidence, self-esteem, and feeling prepared for the year ahead. We look forward to help from the community in this effort to help our neighbors in need.”

The Sulzbacher Village provides housing and supportive services to about 80 families and 221 school-age children. Children and families who live near the Sulzbacher Village campus in the surrounding Brentwood neighborhood or 32208 zip code can also receive school supplies and backpacks, as long as supplies last. In total, Sulzbacher hopes to provide approximately 400 children – or more – with necessary school supplies.

“The first day of school should be an exciting and happy time for a child – they shouldn’t have to worry about not having a backpack or school supplies like the other children,” said Cindy Funkhouser, president and CEO of Sulzbacher. “That’s why we’re thrilled that 121 Financial Credit Union has partnered with us on our school supply drive again this year, so that our kids and any child in Jacksonville in need can be ready to learn on the first day of school.”

All supplies, ready-to-use backpacks, or Old Navy gift cards can be dropped off at any local 121 Financial Credit Union branch location.

Supply Lists

A variety of school and classroom supplies are needed for elementary and middle/high school students and teachers. To donate a complete, ready-to-use backpack, individuals can purchase all the items listed in each section and place within the requested backpack type to drop-off at any 121 Financial Credit Union branch location.

Elementary School Student Supply List:

1. Clear Backpack (no wheels)

2. Pencils

3. Pencil sharpener

4. Pencil pouch

5. Loose leaf paper (wide)

6. Composition Notebooks

7. 2-pocket, 3-prong folders

8. Headphones

9. 1-inch, 3-ring binders

10. 1 pack of copy paper

11. Kleenex tissue

12. Hand sanitizer

13. Glue sticks

14. Glue

15. Highlighters

16. Colored pencils

17. Markers

18. Crayons

19. Disposable masks

Elementary Classroom Supply List (Requested by teachers)

1. Box of gallon and/or quart sized zip lock bags

2. Ream of copy paper

3. Sanitizing wipes

4. Sharpies

5. Dry erase markers

Middle/High School Student Supply List:

1. Clear Backpack (no wheels)

2. Wirebound weekly planner

3. Pencils

4. Pencil sharpener

5. Pencil pouch (cloth/not a box)

6. Loose leaf paper (college ruled)

7. Composition Notebooks

8. Sticky notes

9. USB flash drives

10. 2 pocket - 3 prong folders

11. Headphones

12. 1 inch 3 ring binders

13. 1 ½ inch 3 ring binders

14. Tab dividers (several packs)

15. Sheet protectors

16. T1 calculator

17. Graphing Paper

18. Protractor

19. 1 pack of copy paper

20. Kleenex tissue

21. Hand sanitizer

22. Glue sticks

23. Glue

24. Highlighters

25. Colored pencils

26. Markers (Thin)

27. Sharpies

28. Pocket Dictionary

29. Pocket Thesaurus

For more information about the school supply drive, visit www.121fcu.org.

ABOUT 121 FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION: 121 Financial Credit Union (pronounced “One to One”) provides personalized banking and financial services to its more than 45,000 members throughout the Jacksonville and North Florida region. Since its founding in 1935 as Florida Telco, the credit union has worked to be a trusted partner to the community with personalized solutions for every stage of life. 121 Financial offers a range of products for both consumers and businesses and specializes in deposit accounts and loans, including mortgages. For more information or to become a member, visit https://121fcu.org/.

ABOUT SULZBACHER: Sulzbacher provides the opportunity for homeless men, women, and children to achieve a better life. The agency’s comprehensive services include street outreach, daily meals, emergency housing, case management support, veteran services, job placement assistance, as well as permanent supportive housing, scattered-site housing, and a therapeutic early learning center. Medical, dental, and mental health care is provided at its downtown campus, at the beaches and at its pediatric health center at Sulzbacher Village. Every day, Sulzbacher is home to more than 400 homeless members of our community – most of whom are women and children. For more information, visit www.sulzbacherjax.org.

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