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Murray Journal

Got notebooks? Donations still needed in area schools

Aug 29, 2018 11:44AM ● By Jana Klopsch

Community members were encouraged to bring donations to school buses parked in the Shops at South Town as part of a supply drive for students. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

By Julie Slama | [email protected] 

Murray Education Foundation Director Jeanne Habel is appreciative for the help Murray School District students will receive from this year’s Tools for Schools. 

“It’s a conglomerate effort that helps students out in eight school districts,” she said. 

This year, school supplies, clothing, food and hygiene items were donated by the community in early August during the second annual Tools for Schools drive for students in area districts including Granite, Jordan, Canyons and Salt Lake as well as Murray. 

During the three-day drive, Z104 KSOP radio personalities Dave and Deb lived on school buses at the Shops at South Town to broadcast the need. Salt Lake Board of Realtors, district volunteers and others accepted and organized donations. 

Habel, who said that the combined effort allowed each participating district to indicate their greatest needs and then to divide those donations accordingly. 

“Murray School District can use about anything from pencils and papers to calculators, even clothing,” she said. 

Murray High School also supports a “Cinderella’s Closet,” filled with more formal clothing so students could select items to rent for prom and other dances. 

The need in Murray extends to meals. Many of the schools in the District also have non-perishable food pantries to help students and their families, Habel said. 

“We appreciate any donations we receive so kids aren’t going home hungry,” she said. 

The idea to hold a collaborative drive came from Jackie McKay, on-air promotions director for Z104. 

“It’s a way we can help our community as there is so many kids in need,” she said. “We’ve had people dropping off notebooks, backpacks, cash donations, food and other items we listed on a website. With some of the cash donations, we’ve gone out to buy more needed items like socks and underwear and flash drives so students can save their work if they don’t have computers at home. We have a great group of listeners who love to support the community and are helping to stuff backpacks full for all the students in need.” 

Aside from Tools for Schools, Habel said that the Foundation was expected to help benefit teachers and students in the classroom through its 20th annual golf tournament that was slated for late August. The tournament helps to fund teacher grants for the classroom that help student learning. 

To contribute to students, donations to Murray Education Foundation are accepted online at www.murrayschools.org.