Community Services League needs help with school supplies

Last year, the Community Services League donated more than 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to children of needy families as part of a back-to-school program.
As the number of families in need continues to grow, the CSL’s annual back to school supplies store, which officially opens in August, is aggressively seeking donations to make sure that required school supplies are available for children in need.
 “There is a book that talks about what it means to be poor for children,” CSL Executive Director Sue Crumpton said in a press release. “One of the sentiments from the book is, ‘being poor is the sad look on your mother’s face when you need school supplies.’”
Crumpton added donations can help make the start of the upcoming school year a positive experience for the children CSL will assist.
“We hope to spare needy children at least one harsh reality of poverty and give them a more fair start to their education,” she said.
Citizens interested in donating to the cause can drop off school supplies listed on the CSL’s Web site (www.communityserv.org) to one of the CSL offices located in Blue Springs, Buckner, Grain Valley, Independence and Oak Grove or call 816-254-4100 for specific addresses and hours of operation.
Monetary donations for school supplies may be sent to Community Services League, 300 West Maple Street, Independence, MO 64050. Donations are also accepted online.

Utilities grant funds gone before noon
Families gathered at three separate CSL locations Wednesday morning to sign up for utility bill assistance and judging by the results, there is an abundance of families in need, Crumpton said.
“We had $6,000 (in grant money) from IShare, and it was gone before noon,” Crumpton said, adding IShare is a group of business owners in the Independence area that donates money to help area families pay utility bills.
Although CSL buildings don’t open until 8 a.m., Bruce Bailey, coordinator for the CSL’s site at 300 W. Maple Ave., said families began lining up on Maple close to 6 a.m. on Wednesday.
“We helped 25 families before noon, but we had a total of 38 families come to us for help,” Bailey said. “Those families we couldn’t help are first in line once we receive more funds to help them.”
According to Michael Levine, the CSL’s director of development and marketing, in 2008 the CSL aided more than 45,000 individuals. With escalating food and gas prices, mortgage and housing issues and an overall increase in the cost-of-living, Levine said the number of people in need of aid in 2009 is at an all-time high.
“Unfortunately, there is a greater need,” Levine said.