Oakland's Montcalir Library Accepting School Supplies to Help Kids Get Ready for School

Beyond being ready to take notes and work hard, Project Ready to Learn strives to make
sure every student feels accepted and that they belong on the first day of school. Project
Ready to Learn is a community drive collecting new school supplies and cash to help children in need. This project helped more than 3,000 children last year, and this year the hope is to increase the aid to thousands more throughout Alameda and Contra Costa
counties.

It's very easy to help. Buy as many of the suggested supplies as you want and drop them off between August 1 and August 17 at one of the many collection sites listed below. You can also write a check and mail it to The Oakland Tribune.

ANG Newspapers is part of the drive and is providing places for you to drop off these very essential school supplies. These locations include:

The Oakland Tribune, 7677 Oakport St., Suite 950,
OaklandLincoln Child Center Campus, 4368 Lincoln Ave
The Montclair Branch of the Oakland Public Library, 1687 Mountain Blvd.

Donations in Alameda County will go to Tools 4 School, an umbrella project that joins the
efforts of 15 agencies that work with children living in poverty. Lincoln Child Center is another organization helping with the school supply project in Alameda County.

Backpacks will be packed with supplies for kids in kindergarten through high school, with each age group needing its own specific items. Elementary school children will need items such as wide-ruled notebooks, colored pencils, crayons, etc. Middle school students will also need items such as a protractor or compass, a simple calculator and a dictionary. High

school students need binders and scientific calculators for upper division math and science classes. Students of all ages need pens, pencils and, of course, backpacks. One important caveat: No bright red or bright blue backpacks, as they are often recognized as gang colors. For a complete list of requested items and more details of this program, please go here.

If your child needs a backpack or you know someone who does, please call Tools 4 School at (510) 485-7103 in Alameda County, and VESTIA in Contra Costa Count at (925)335-2190.