Kids Helping Kids program needs donations of school supplies

Kids throughout the region are hitting the streets to ensure that low-income students have a fitting start to their upcoming school year.

Camp Fire Boys and Girls and adult volunteers will fan out to stores in the greater Spokane area and North Idaho this weekend to pass out flyers asking area shoppers to pick up pencils, scissors and other supplies.

Last year, the Kids Helping Kids back-to-school program helped 3,500 homeless and underprivileged kids, and 20 different agencies helped distribute the items.

During the 10 years that Camp Fire USA Inland Northwest Council has sponsored the program, the group has collected a mountain of school essentials, including 80,000 pencils, 25,000 pens, 5,500 packages of paper, 8,000 boxes of crayons and 6,000 folders. Additionally, the group raised nearly $15,000 that was used to purchases backpacks and other items.

Donations can be dropped off on Saturday and Sunday at the following locations:

• Rosauers, 2610 E. 29th.

• The corner of Francis and Division.

• Office Depot, 1003 E. Third Ave.

• Office Depot in Coeur d’Alene, 131 W. Nieder.

• Ben Franklin on Cheney-Spokane Road.

• Yoke’s Foods in Airway Heights, 12824 W. Sunset Highway.

• Rite Aid in Hayden Lake, 75 W. Prairie Ave.

• Wal-Mart stores at 15727 E. Broadway Ave., 2301 W. Wellesley Ave., 9212 N. Colton St and in Post Falls at 3000 E. Mullan Ave.

Volunteers will also collect supplies Aug. 21 and 22 at the Wal-Mart stores listed.