United Way to give away school supplies
by Carlie Kollath/NEMS Daily Journal
TUPELO – The United Way of Northeast Mississippi is skipping a formal campaign kickoff and is doing a back-to-school event instead.

Last year, Leigh Anne Tuohy, the real-life mom in the movie “The Blind Side,” headlined the group’s kickoff event. The event usually has been combined with a day of community volunteering.

The United Way opted to change directions.

“Knowing how the economy is and how many people are hurting, we felt like there would be so many people out there with a need for getting back to school,” said Melinda Tidwell, the group’s executive director.

The United Way hopes to collect supplies for 4,000 kindergarten through sixth-grade students. It needs donations of school supplies, backpacks, hand sanitizer, socks and underwear.

Donations will be collected July 15 in Fairpark from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Supplies will be given away July 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the BancorpSouth Arena.

The fair also will have immunizations, haircuts, vision screenings and hearing screenings.

Children need to be preregistered to get supplies. Register by calling (662) 841-9133 or go to unitedwaynems.org.

The United Way also needs volunteers to sort donations and to work the fair. To volunteer, call (662) 841-9133 and ask for Lacy Carr.

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