CHRIS LOWREY
SHAWVILLE Aug. 15, 2018
The Parents Voice in Shawville is looking for donations of school supplies for the upcoming school year.
Most of the supplies go to Dr. S.E. McDowell Elementary, but organizer Gillian MacDougall said that some will also go to Pontiac High School.
She said the group is looking for all kinds of school supplies: glue sticks, pencils, notebooks, duotangs, markers, crayons erasers and anything else donors can think of.
“We’ve gotten a really good response from the community,” MacDougall said. “So it’s something that we’re happy to keep doing.”
This is the third year for the program, after the first two were a success.

There are five drop off locations for the supplies: Stedman’s, Hursty’s, Cartrites, Giant Tiger as well as Henderson’s in Norway Bay.
“These supplies are there for anyone that needs them,” MacDougall said.
Last year, the supplies were placed in a locker at McDowell and all teachers had access to them when they needed supplies.
“If the teachers notice that there’s stuff the kids are missing or if kids needed a whole slew of things, the teachers could hand it out as needed,” MacDougall said.
Not only does this help the students, but it also helps the teachers – many of whom pay out of their own pocket to ensure their classrooms are stocked with supplies.
“It’s partly to help [teachers] too so that it’s not necessarily [them] who are filling in that gap,” she said.
Donations are being accepted until Aug. 19, although they will be accepted afterwards as well. Cash donations are also welcome.