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July 3, 2002

4-H youth help others get ready for 'Back to School'

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Youth participating in this year's 4-H Youth Round-Up donated several thousand school supplies as a community service project for the "Tools for Schools" program.

The program, coordinated by the Lafayette Community and Family Resource Center and the Salvation Army, helps provide low-income children in Tippecanoe County with the supplies they need for the upcoming school year.

"Tools for Schools" officially begins in August, but close to 750 4-H youth and volunteers got a head start on their contributions during round-up. Pencils, paper, glue, folders, scissors, colored pencils and several other school necessities were donated.

"This year is particularly hard in our community," said Pam Biggs-Reed, CFRC director. "The list of school supplies has grown this year due to tighter school budgets, and many of the classroom expenses are being put back on the family."

Chris Cook-Leitz, 4-H youth program coordinator, said she was overwhelmed by the response from this community service project.

"This is a good opportunity for youth to give back to the community," said Cook-Leitz. "Helping the community is what 4-H is about."

To learn more about the "Tools for Schools" program, visit the CFRC Web site.

CONTACT: Chris Cook-Leitz, (765) 494-8437, cookleit@purdue.edu; Pam Biggs-Reed, (765) 742-4848, pbr@cfrc.org.

Writer: Jennifer Doup, (765) 494-6682, doupj@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, bforbes@aes.purdue.edu; https://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/AgComm/public/agnews/

Related Web sites:
Indiana 4-H Youth
Lafayette Community and Family Resource Center

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu


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