Do you remember the first day of school as a kid? It’s always exciting and a little nerve-wracking to start learning new subjects in a new classroom with new teachers. But one thing that’s consistently fun about the start of the school year: buying school supplies. So this summer, Tribal Health is helping Native children with a Back-to-School Supply Drive for shelters in our service communities.
We are big believers in education here at Tribal Health. You might have guessed that from our TEAMS program, which pays 100% of all tuition for employees’ degree programs, and our new STEM program, which brings free curriculum to our service area schools to help increase Native representation in healthcare, science, engineering, and technology.
But ensuring a good education is about more than paying the bill – it’s about setting children up for academic success by giving them the right supplies and resources so they can perform well in the classroom. And one thing we’ve learned from working with shelters in our service communities is how often they need school supplies.
It makes sense; if moms and kids are fleeing dangerous situations, or looking for a stable place to get back on their feet, those families may not have access to basic classroom supplies. So our Back-to-School Supply Drive will help those Native students keep up with their education.
Here’s what we’re looking for:
- Notebooks
- Backpacks
- Folders
- Pens and pencils
- Highlighters
- Washable markers
- Pencil cases
- Calculators
- Art supplies
- G.E.D. and study guides
- Lunch bags
- Clothing for K-12 students
Where you can send your items:
If you’d like to participate, you can drop your items off at our headquarters (and say hello!) or ship them here. We are at:
Tribal Health
14614 N. Kierland Blvd., Ste 120
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
You can also donate financially here.
The deadline is August 11 – but earlier donations are great.
Some schools and regions start earlier than others, so we’ll be sending out packages on a rolling basis. Officially, you can send your supplies in now!
Please join us in supporting Native American education and helping every student have the best chance possible at academic success!
