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Aug 11, 2008 4:54 pm US/Central
School Supplies Scarce For Some N. Texans In Need
by Seema Mathur
CLEBURNE (CBS 11 News) ―
School is about to start for all public schools in Texas. And as parents buy school supplies for their kids, more of them are asking for help with that expense this year.
Last week in Dallas, the annual Mayor's Back to School Fair drew 50,000 people—about twice as many as usual. Now some people in Cleburne are wondering if their kids will have the supplies they need when school starts in two weeks.
The Salvation Army's Cleburne location normally provides school supplies for about 130 students. But it's having trouble meeting demand this year. They've already had 100 requests. But they only have enough supplies for 15 students.
They say donations are down and demand is up. The culprit, they say, is a familiar one: higher prices for essentials like gasoline and food. The Salvation Army says this year they're getting requests from people who have never needed their help before.
The Cleburne ISD tells us that with donations from local churches they expect to be able to meet the needs that the Salvation Army usually fills, but it's going to be tight.
The story is similar in Fort Worth. The annual Back to School Roundup, which is coming up on August 23, equips needy Tarrant County students with school supplies each year. But demand for the materials is outstripping supply.
The City of Dallas plans another event to provide free school supplies to students who live in the 75208, 75211 and 75212 ZIP codes. The event will held on Tuesday, August 12 at the West Dallas Multipurpose Center located at 2828 Fish Trap Road. The city will also provide free immunizations, sports physicals, and dental and vision screenings. The city says residents must provide a utility bill as proof of eligibility.
If you'd like to donate to the Salvation Army in Johnson County, you can call 817.558.1296 or visit their website at
SalvationArmyUSA.org and search for "Cleburne."
To donate to the Back to School Roundup for Tarrant County students, you can visit their site at
backtoschoolroundup.org.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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