MILWAUKEE — Sleeping outside for school supplies: That’s what one local community advocate is doing to make sure Milwaukee classrooms and students are outfitted with the tools they need to learn.
For four years now Peace for Change Alliance President, Tracey Dent, has partnered with a number of community organizations including Milwaukee Police, sleeping on the corner of MLK and North collecting as many school supplies as they can.
"Our children [are] our future for one and foremost, and we want to make sure they are prepared for school,” Dent said.
And every notebook, every pencil, it all counts. Dent said some parents just don’t have the means to buy their child everything on their school supply list and teachers often end up going into their own pockets to foot the bill. He and a number of other community partners want to lift this burden, but they can’t do it alone —they’re asking neighbors from near and far to bring school supplies and monetary donations —they’ll then turn it all over to a couple Milwaukee Public Schools in need.
“Every year, it grows and grows. We’re usually able to outfit several classrooms of young people with everything from book bags to pens to folders and all of that,” Alderwoman Milele Coggs said.
The drive starts at 7 pm on Friday and ends on Saturday morning.
If you can't make it to the drive call (414) 326-8347 to find more ways to donate.
