The Savannah/Chatham County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Inc. will soon begin our annual Back-to-School Drive. Our goal is to collect school supplies and clear or mesh backpacks to help our community's foster children begin the school year with the necessary items to succeed. Treasured belongings are often left behind when a child enters the child welfare system – including school supplies. Having inadequate or no school supplies hinders a child's ability to excel in the classroom and fit in. This especially affects the most vulnerable children in our community who have already been uprooted from all that they know. It is up to our community to step in and make a difference!

We are asking for your help in collecting donations for these children. Collection dates are Tuesday, July 1, 2014 through Friday, July 25, 2014. Supplies can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 9:00am - 5:00pm at the United Way of the Coastal Empire building, 428 Bull Street Suite 205.

Suggested donated items include, but are not limited to:

• loose-leaf paper
• pencils
• erasers
• glue
• crayons
• personal-size hand sanitizer
• 3-prong folders with pockets
• colored pencils
• highlighters
• tissues
• notebooks
• black or navy mesh backpacks
• clear backpacks