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Teachers’ School Supplies, Next Potluck with LIVE MUSIC, Projects Update, Help and Items Needed

  • Writer: blog
    blog
  • Jul 17
  • 5 min read

Teachers’ School Supplies - Buy them now when they're on sale!


7th Annual Teachers' School Supplies Drive with a Twist

Why School Supplies?

Did you know?

·         In the Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD), approximately 60% of students are classified as socioeconomically disadvantaged or eligible for free and reduced-price meals.

·         When children lack essential school supplies they come to class unprepared, leading to disrupted lessons, classroom shame and behavioral issues.

·         Children who cannot afford school supplies – like pencils, paper and calculators – often resort to constantly borrowing from peers or teachers.

·         Not having the right supplies leads to emotional distress and social stigma.

·         The average cost of school supplies per student ranges from about $30 in pre-K  to $75 for elementary school to $150 for middle school and $200+ for high school

·         Teachers spend an average of $750 to $2,000 for teaching and students supplies

In the South SLO County Lucia Mar Unified School District we have many Title 1 schools. A school is considered a Title I school if at least 40% of its students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Eleven (11) of our 19 schools are title 1 schools.

Teachers and Principals have told us that the need for school supplies is greatest in January at the start of the second semester. No one is thinking school supplies then, and they are not on sale So here is our TWIST - we are holding our school supplies drive from July 15th  to August 15th , when they are on sale, but will be storing them in a fabulous Womenader's home until January! Your donated school supplies will be distributed to the 11 Title 1 schools in our district in January!

We have prepared an Amazon Wish List and a Most-Needed Supplies list. However, as you shop, and you are moved to purchase supplies targeted at students not just teachers eg. notebooks, crayons, pencils, paper, pens, binders - please do so as the students will need them for the January semester

Click here to let us know how you'd like to participate - shop locally, Amazon Wish List and Volunteer on Pack-to-Store day August 17th. https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-teachers-school-supplies


Amazon Wish List


Most-Needed Supplies

·         Baby wipes (for cleaning headphones)*

·         Blue Clorox wipes*

·         Scotch laminating sheets*

·         Paper Mate Flair felt tip pens

·         Fine point dry erase markers (black and color)

·         Sharpies (fine point and large tip)

·         Sticky notes (all sizes)

·         Glue sticks

·         Painter’s tape

·         Masking tape

·         Heavy duty whiteboard magnets

·         Whiteboard magnet clips

·         Avery adhesive labels (2”x4” and other sizes)

*Most needed items

Drop-Off Locations

·         Candace Guldeman - 524 Mesa View Drive (aka 524 Tilhisa Lane)

·         FitForever Gym - 1080 Cypress Ridge Parkway, Arroyo Grande

·         Lisa Marie Jean – Pismo Coast Realtors 1126 E. Grande Ave, AG

·         Lisa Murdoch – 117 Pearwood Ave., Arroyo Grande

·         Nan Fowler – 630 Cerro Vista Circle, Arroyo Grande

·         Stacy Murphy – 1975 Northwood Rd., Nipomo

·         Judy Woo - 1402 Vista Tesoro Pl., Nipomo

·         Neighbors General Store – 119 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande

·         Susan McCutcheon – 2342 Willet Way, Arroyo Grande*

*Amazon Wish List delivery address

 

Here's a flyer for you to print and share with friends and neighbors. Click on picture and cut and paste in a word document to print!



Next Potluck with LIVE MUSIC!



Our next Potluck Fundraiser is on August 22nd starting 3:30PM to 7:00 PM on the mesa in Arroyo Grande. The band is donating their performance to South SLO County Womenade. Join us in Arroyo Grande for South SLO County Womenade’s first-ever benefit concert featuring Carbon City Lights. It will be an evening of live music, community, food, and connection that you won’t want to miss. Here's the link:


Guests are invited to bring a potluck dish to share as well as their own place setting and beverage (chair and blanket optional) as we gather together for this special evening. Proceeds from the event will support South SLO County Womenade’s work providing care, connection, and direct assistance throughout our community. Address and parking details will be provided after ticket purchase.


Arrival + parking begins at 3:00 PM Event begins at 3:30 PM Live music starts around 4:00 PM

We can’t wait to spend this special evening with you!


Please note: Zeffy is a free fundraising platform for nonprofits. During checkout, you’ll see an optional contribution to support Zeffy’s services. If you prefer not to contribute, simply select “Other” and enter 0 on the next page. 


Projects Updates




Typically the Laundry Pop-Ups take place the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month. July 4th was the first Saturday so the Nipomo Laundry Pop-Up was postponed a week.On Saturday July 11th the laundromat was pretty busy all morning and fortunately most of the machines were in service.  There were several familiar faces but also several new faces, particularly young men washing what appeared to be work clothes.  We also greeted a young woman and her daughter who heard about the pop up while participating with showers for the homeless.   She and her daughter are now living in a shelter but were grateful to have the opportunity to get their laundry done and save their precious resources for other things. 

We began the day with $425.25 in quarters.  During the event we found $20 cash in an apron pocket that was likely donated at a previous pop-up event and 'misplaced'.  I used the change machine and converted it to quarters so we actually had $445.24 to work with today.  $265.75 was spent on this event leaving us with $179.50.  I think we will need more quarters before the August event.  Additionally we had two new volunteers working today- Jean Baker and Candace Kincade.


Next Laundry Pop-Ups:

  • July 18th, 119 S. 13th St., Laundromat, Grover Beach

  • August 1 2026 Launderia Laundre Mat 505 Orchard St. Nipomo

  • August 22, 2026 Washboard Laundromat 111 S Halcyon Rd Arroyo Grande


Sign up to volunteer here:


Nipomo Food Distribution – Rosemary Cleaves, Sue McCutcheon, and Mary Anne Morgan - project leaders



The July food distribution will take place tomorrow, July 14th at Nipomo High School. We have a great team of volunteers signed up to make the magic happen! We are looking forward to a summer time distribution. Although we have a strong group of dedicated volunteer, we do have room for a few more volunteers each month. If you want to sign up for one in the future you can use this link:


We work with SLO FoodBank, the Lucia Mar school district and our volunteers to make the Food Distribution happen.


Help and Items Needed

 
 
 

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