So, if you're still needing a reality check on the economy, come hang out in my 'hood this week. Historically, the church has given out school supplies to kids the day before school starts. Typically, the church gave out supplies to 35-45 kids. In 2006 we helped about 65 kids. In 2007 that number jumped to 120. Last year we closed the doors at 160 kids.
This year, things are different. Everywhere I go I get people stopping and asking me about supplies. I even have people knocking on the door of my house to see if and when supplies will be available. I've never seen this level of need before hand.
Now, here's the kicker: We don't have near the supplies available to give away this year as last year. I have a substantial donation coming on Friday and we've got about $100 given to us to spend to fill in the gap. Still, we are nowhere near last years resources with a seemingly dramatic increase in demand.
We've got lots of crayons, notebooks, pencils, pens, and erasers. We only have about a dozen boxes of markers and fewer than ten boxes of colored pencils and bottles of glue. Last year we had boxes upon boxes of 3-ring binders. This year we have 8 binders total.
We may need a loaves and fishes thing, riot gear, or both.
I, for one, am most curious as to what will happen next.
Thanks, for reading,
Jeff
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