Editorial: Stock 'em!

School supplies showed up in a big way at local stores last week. While there’s something wrong about back-to-school thoughts in July, there’s everything right about the United Way of Goodhue, Wabasha and Pierce Counties working to capitalize on this marketing effort.

The goal, of course, is help those students whose can’t afford new pens, pencils, paper, crayons, folders and backpacks.

The timing should work in these children’s favor. Shoppers may be more inclined to buy extra gluestick or scissors because they’re not down to the wire to fill their children’s school supply list. Plus, the guardians of those children who receive some supplies through this United Way drive will learn soon what they still have to purchase on their own.

Without necessary supplies, these students will be at a disadvantage, both academically and socially, when classes resume this fall. If everyone helps, however, we can use a big imaginary community pink eraser to remove the school supply deficit and give everyone a fresh start.

Tags: opinion, editorials