Shelter needs school clothing, supplies

A campaign to collect new back-to-school clothing and supplies for more than 40 children staying at The Road Home family shelter or living in area subsidized housing kicks off today.

Educators Mutual, a 70-year-old nonprofit medical-insurance association for educators and other government agency workers, has set up Apple Tree drop-off sites at 15 DownEast locations along the Wasatch Front, at three Salt Lake Staples locations, at the FM100 radio station and at the offices of Educators Mutual.

To donate, participants select an apple, each of which are labeled with the name of a child living in the shelter or affordable housing, along with a needed back-to-school item.

Donors may also donate online at www.EducatorsMutual.com.

"Because of the challenging economy this year, the needs for back-to-school at The Road Home have never been greater," said Christie Hawkes, senior vice president of corporate communications, Educators Mutual. "We created the program to give these deserving children a boost and to provide a convenient way for the public to help."

At the completion of the campaign, which runs through Aug. 17, Educators Mutual will deliver the clothing and school supplies to The Road Home before the school year starts.

The campaign collected nearly 1,000 items last year. School supplies and at least one new set of clothes were provided for each child at the shelter or in affordable housing. More information about the campaign is available at www.educatorsmutual.com.