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 Everyone deserves a Fair Start.
At least that’s the goal of Open Door, a ministry of the Coalition for Compassion and Justice. During the year Open Door gives out clothing and meals to people in need three days per week. But once a year, Director Marlene Hammond rouses her volunteers even more and addresses the needs of Prescott area school children.
She says, “Four years ago we discovered that kids couldn’t afford the school supplies and the schools no longer provided them. We think there needs to be an even playing field in school. We don’t think kids should feel “different.” It really affects their self-esteem. We found out that high school kids go so far as to drop out if they don’t fit in. So that’s what Fair Start is all about.”
Hammond said they had 900 students come through last year and they expected about 1200 students from around Yavapai County this year. They don’t check for income levels; they just welcome anyone who shows up.
This is the first year that Open Door partnered with the Prescott Unified School District and the event was held in the Lincoln Elementary School multi-purpose room. This made a big difference for the group since in the past they have been in warehouses and parking lots. This time they had air conditioning and their liability insurance was covered. Last year they were in a warehouse with no electricity and had to rent a generator.
Many businesses and groups in Yavapai County were behind the event, and Hammond was quick to mention each one with gratitude. Five churches held an “Undie Sunday” last week to collect new socks and underwear for the students. American Evangelical Lutheran Church, Sacred Heart, Trinity Presbyterian, Prescott Unified Methodist and St. Lukes Episcopal Church all participated. Credit Union West supplied pencil boxes and water bottles, the Arizona Cardinals, Coyotes and Suns all gave grants for the purchase of supplies, Staples gave them gift certificates, Youth Count met the group with trucks at Wal-Mart to deliver the items to Lincoln Elementary, Catholic Charities donated 3 rooms so they could store all the items, and JC Penney’s donated 100 gift certificates to their hair salon.
There were 25 volunteers per shift, and the doors were open until 5:00. As families walked in they were asked what school and grade each students would be attending, and volunteers used that information to match the children to individual supply lists from the schools. Students then received a new backpack and walked around the room to gather the correct supplies.
One volunteer, Jessica Woolever from Youth Count was smiling as she sat behind her pile of new scissors. She said she volunteered, “To help people out. Some people are less fortunate than others. And it makes me happy! I like seeing kids faces light up when they see they’re getting a brand new pair of scissors.” Another young volunteer, Sharna, from Prescott Mile High Middle School National Junior Honor Society was waiting for her shift to begin. She said her NJHS advisor, Mrs. Grotbeck had told her about Fair Start and she wanted to come by and pitch in.
Hammond said that if students were not able to come by on Saturday they are free to drop by Open Door this Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 am until noon.
The number of people who turn out each year illustrates that the event is needed in the community and appreciated by students and parents alike. That was clearly evidenced by one mother who had tears in her eyes as she walked through the door with her two children and saw the abundance of school supplies laid out. Some things may seem like no big deal. But for others: it’s huge.
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Open Door sends a big thank you to all who participated in Fair Start.