School Supply Drive!!!

Back by popular demand, the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona’s school supply drive for early childhood education is now available all year! Originally a project of United Way’s annual community-wide volunteer event, Days of Caring, the response and generosity of Southern Arizona organizations was so overwhelming that United Way has opened up the drive as an ongoing event. This school supply drive uniquely supports our community’s youngest: children from birth to age five. This developmental period is the time when 90 percent of a child’s brain is formed, but conversely, less than five percent of public investments in education and development occur during the same period. Cuts to Arizona Department of Economic Security, coupled with an unstable economic climate, have further weakened area early child care centers and homes, and many are unable to afford the basic supplies needed to stimulate young children and lay the groundwork for all future learning. By holding a school supply drive, an organization fosters team-building and helps ensure that more local children are entering kindergarten with the tools they need to learn and succeed.

The United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona school supply drive will benefit child care sites that serve low-income children and have made a commitment to quality improvement and transparency by taking part in Quality First, a First Things First funded initiative administered by United Way and Partners. Centers and homes enrolled in Quality First receive coaching services designed to improve the quality of their sites in several areas including their environments, programs and staff qualifications. The centers and homes also agree to be rated on a 5-star quality rating scale that will be made public to help parents make informed decisions about child care.

If interested in partnering with United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona to hold an early education school supply drive, please contact Daniel Schmidt at 520-903-3947 or dschmidt@unitedwaytucson.org.

If interested in learning more about United Way’s programs supporting early education including health, literacy, and family support, please contact Early Education Director Paula Trubisky at 520-903-3944 or ptrubisky@unitedwaytucson.org.