The Ocean City Free Public Library is extending a helping hand across the country to support school families in Texas in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. The library (1735 Simpson Avenue in Ocean City) will serve as a donation dropoff center for a school supply collection drive to create care packages for children and schools. With direct connections in Texas, the campaign can ensure that these items will be delivered to the students of the Houston Independent School District.
Jennifer Bernardini, a teacher in the Linwood School District and daughter of Ocean City Realtor Joanne Bernardini launched the drive, which seeks supplies and gently used books for schools devastated by the floods in Houston. The need is reportedly tremendous.
Bernardini partnered with the library in Ocean City, which has set up a bin next to the circulation desk. Anybody can make donations there during library hours. A library volunteer, Jeanne Pless, will box the donations to prepare them for transport.
Another family member, Rachel Williams, is a teacher in the Houston Independent School District who will make sure the supplies get to schools and students that need them. The collection drive has begun and will continue through Sept. 20.
Items needed include: gently used children's books to rebuild school libraries, pens, pencils, crayons, dry-erase markers, colored pencils, folders, composition notebooks and glue sticks.
For further information, call the library at
609-399-2434.
