Posted on 08/19/2012 8:05:03 AM PDT by SMGFan
Ronald Alston knows that jittery back-to-school feeling. Students can almost count down the waning days of summer on their fingers and toes, and as they do, the Irvington resident is facing his own deadline. For more than 10 years, Alston has given away backpacks filled with school supplies to needy youth. But this year, a low turnout in donations has him worried for Saturday, when his nonprofit group is hosting its annual backpack giveaway in Irvington. In the coming weeks, school supply giveaways are taking place not just in Irvington, but also in Newark, Elizabeth, Franklin Township, Dover and many other towns. It’s a ritual as familiar as the smell of sharpened pencils or Elmer’s Glue. "School supplies are expensive, and our families struggle, especially in this economy," said David Walker, executive director of Neighborhood House, a nonprofit group based in Morristown that serves Morris County. But in the affluent county, where some residents can still afford to give to charities, donations have been "going extraordinarily well," Walker said, noting he’s "confident" his organization will be able to meet its goal of providing supplies to 1,500 needy children. For families pinching pennies, costs can add up. Jean Doyle, president of the Franklin Township Senior Club, said her group filled 254 backpacks with $800 worth of supplies. That’s roughly $32 per kid.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
And I posted this a year ago.
“N.J. Teachers Union Denies Democrats Endorsements”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2764005/posts
But the regime and their lapdog media tells us that we are in a recovery.
let the New Jersey House Wives pay for it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaATBGa0Xpk typical NJEA ad. Search youtube for more NJEA propaganda. They have been running them for years while Newark, Jersey City have horrible results.
What do these “parents” pay for theses days?!
I thought welfare, food stamps, housing, healthcare, school lunches, etc. are already GIVEN to these people, What do they pay for?! If they can’t afford school supplies after that how about not having anymore kids!!!
These same people don’t have a problem spending at convenience stores for liquor & cigs. They don’t have a problem paying for manicures or hairdos. But they can’t pay for school supplies. BS!!! They choose not to pay for them!
Oh yeh...forgot...they gotta make turkeys and christmas decorations, take Spanish, learn about collards and whole wheat....forget "writing" ot spelling or multiplication tables.
The Kindergarten - 12th school system is an absolute mess.
don’t worry the feds will fund the condoms
Exactly!
Some of our schools don’t even teach cursive writing any longer. The teachers & administration decided they didn’t need it, What?! Ask these kids to SIGN their name and they PRINT it because they don’t know how to WRITE it. Sickening.
And don’t get me started on their ability to do simple math.
Here's an idea, how about using super cheap yellow #2 pencils instead of mechanical pencils and cheap Elmer's Glue instead of the sparkle glitter glue and the teachers cut the supply list by 75%.
“They choose not to pay for them”.
BINGO. It is a choice. It’s the “entitlement mentality”.. someone else can pay for this. School supplies can be purchased on sale and at Dollar Stores. However, why bother when one can get them for free.
Just wait a few weeks from now when teachers send out another request to those parents with jobs asking if they’d donate a few more supplies because poor widdle welfare Johnny didn’t bring any notebook paper or scissors. Then go back at the end of the year and look in the school dumpsters filled with brand new supplies the teachers have thrown out. Don’t tell me they don’t because I’ve seen it. Back in my day, scissors, crayons, rulers, etc. were reused year after year.
The primary reason our property taxes are the highest in the country is that we have to support these towns and their schools, at a cost per student that exceeds private schools and colleges. Add that to our income taxes that supply free housing, medical care, cell phones, breakfast and lunch (and sometimes take-home food), all-day preschool, and help with utility bills, etc. And still they ask for more. Sorry, I’m buying for my own kids and grandkids out of what’s left of my paycheck.
That’s exactly how it goes. At least the schools I have experience with don’t throw the supplies away, they take over entire supply closets (for each grade level). These closets are filled from floor to ceiling with every imaginable office supply.
I asked the teachers...if y’all have such excessive supplies, why is the school board asking the community for more money?
“Oh the schools didn’t purchase those, those supplies are from parents.” They were so ignorant they didn’t realize how offensiveness of their statement.
Public school is the last place I’d donated to.
Teachers should start contributing towards their own healthcare and pension.
Parents can skip one can of beer per week, that will pay for school supply. Mom’s please skip one nail saloon appointment, do it at home. That will pay for kids school clothes and food.
I only give to very specific charities. Started doing that a long time ago. I figure if 50% of our income is going to taxes, which is mostly redistributed, I have already given all the little buggers are getting from me.
Around here the parents get a list w/ about $70worth of stuff. Sani-wipes,tissues, etc.
Then when little Johnny takes it to school they pool the supplies.
So the kids w/ lazy, cheap parents share in the spoils. I say BS !
Yes...all of that...but just don’t forget to pull the lever for the “D” party at the next election. It has been the Joisey way for a long time! Don’t buck tradition.
Agreed. I cannot bear the thought of donating $50 of school supplies to a woman who has spent that much per month on hair and nails PLUS $200 shoes on her kids.
Well, I don’t vote for Democrats. Unfortunately so many people here are plugged into the local, county or state government, or “public” employee unions, or on welfare, they and their relatives outnumber Republicans. Plus the RINOs vote for people like Frank Pallone because of environmental BS. Very few Republicans who get elected stay conservative even if they ran that way, Jennifer Beck being a prime example.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.