Getting ready?
We are a few short weeks away from the start of the 2017-18 school year . . . and all that that brings.

One major component of this time is preparing for Back to School, shopping for school supplies and new — or gently used — clothing.

Here are a few places that are hosting free school supplies for those needing them:

*  “School Supply Spectacular,” hosted by United Way of Southwest Michigan:  Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, Brook Learning Center in Cassopolis.  http://www.uwsm.org/school-supply-spectacular.

*  Salvation Army Backpacks/School Supplies giveaway, hosted by the Salvation Army of Niles: Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, and 1 to 3 p.m., for first- through 12th graders.  First-come, first-served; items available as long as supplies last. Those hoping to pick up free school supplies will need to present the parent’s ID, a social security card for each child receiving supplies and proof of the school the child will attend; this giveaway designed for students in Niles, Buchanan and Cass.  Contact the Salvation Army at 269.684.2660.

(Also, find out more about the Salvation Army’s Feeding His Sheep backpack weekend-feeding program for area children.)

TO MAKE DONATIONS

If you’d like to contribute items for back-to-school supplies and backpack drives, here are some events that are soliciting donations:

*  “16 Pack A Backpack,” coordinated by NewsChannel16 WNDU, and other partner agencies.  From 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday, July 29, 2017, WNDU will accept back-to-school supplies donations at McDonald’s restaurants in Benton Harbor, Mich., Goshen, Ind. and Plymouth, and at the television station in South Bend, Ind.  PLEASE NOTE THESE DONATED SCHOOL SUPPLIES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO LOW-INCOME CHILDREN/FAMILIES IN THE STATION’S 10-COUNTY VIEWING AREA AT LATER DATES!  Visit the WNDU website for a list of agencies that will be distributing these back-to-school items.