Kiwanis Club now collecting items for school kids

The La Conner Kiwanis Club is sponsoring a drive to help fill the La Conner Schools Care Cabinet.

The cabinet is filled with health care and hygiene items, socks, T-shirts and snacks. It’s available to all students, anytime they need something.

“Imagine getting to school with wet feet because of a puddle you didn’t see or you couldn’t find your scrunchie to get your hair out of your face,” said Kiwanian Joy Neal. “Or you spilled lunch down the front of your shirt. Kids need to feel comfortable in order to learn.”

Kiwanis members are asking the community to donate items for the cabinet. You’ll find donation boxes at Edward Jones, WaFd Bank, Stompin Grounds Coffee, Step Outside, La Conner Swinomish Library and Tillinghast Postal.

The need is real and ongoing, Neal said. “We plan to continue collecting through the school year.”

Teacher Juliene Wall has the Care Cabinet in her room at La Conner High School.

“Thank you all so much for your support in this project. It means so much to me and the kids,” Wall said. “Not a day goes by that I don’t have at least 20 or 30 kids coming in to get something from the Care Cabinet or Clothing Closet, and that’s just a guess. I’m sure it’s actually much more than that some days.”