At the start of August, Copper Country Angel Mission and the Salvation Army partnered to support finding school supplies for the Keweenaw’s kids. The program worked with the Copper Country Intermediate School District to connect with families across the region’s 43 schools.
A student can’t start school without a pencil, paper, a notebook, a backpack, and a few other supplies. At the beginning of the month, the Salvation Army of Hancock and Copper Country Angel Mission announced the start of stuffing a bus. An annual backpack program that has been able to support more students each year.
But last year, we filled 203 backpacks with all the necessary supplies needed for that class age group, including socks, underwear, and some shoes. We expected it to jump to 300, but as of today, we are at 383. – Renee Tuoriniemi, Volunteer, Copper Country Angel Mission
This year, the group has collected enough supplies for around 300 students. But still needs items for another 83 Copper Country kids. Renee Tuoriniemi says the campaign has plenty of common items such as notebooks and crayons. But needs more scissors, and the TI-30X11S scientific calculator for middle school students.
One of the biggest things that we need right now, after taking into account everything that we have in inventory, is boys’ K through second-grade backpacks. Need geometry sets, which include a protractor and compass. And we need the specific calculators that the school districts require for six seventh and eighth graders. And then we need middle school on up scissors, six to eight-inch sharp scissors. – Renee Tuoriniemi, Volunteer, Copper Country Angel Mission
Knowing the community also needs to purchase their school supplies, CCAM encourages supporters to purchase items online for the campaign if rush delivery is an option.
I’ll be honest, our Houghton Walmart has blessed us so much in letting us do the stuff on the bus, but I know we wiped them out on geometry sets. I believe we’re very close. Left 10 scientific calculators there because we know our community needs to shop there as well. – Renee Tuoriniemi, Volunteer, Copper Country Angel Mission
Monetary donations this late into the campaign go a long way to support the Angel Mission and Salvation Army. By donating a check, volunteers can either purchase items the campaign is in short supply of, or even order specific amounts of bulk items.
The groups will accept physical donations at either the Salvation Army office in Hancock or Copper Country Angel Mission’s storefront in Calumet until Monday, August 18th. Backpack pick up will begin on August 23rd.







Comments