J-Cuts in Shelton launches 11th annual school supply drive

Tina Cadella, Lower Naugatuck Valley-Parent Child Resource Center Child First-Early Childhood Clinician, left, and Karen Martinez, LNV-PCRC, Child First-Care Coordinator prepare supplies for children served by their agency./ Submitted photo 

SHELTON - J Cuts has launched the 11th Annual Book Bag & School Supply drive in the Valley. From now to Aug. 22 book bags and school supplies are being collected around the Valley. Last year, more than 130 book bags, and an abundance of back to school supplies, were collected. 

The main collection location is J Cuts, 505 Howe Ave.

 Supplies include book bags, book covers, rulers, pens, pencils, erasers, notebooks, binders, glue, crayons, calculators, pencil sharpeners, paper and folders.  Supplies are collected for children from preschool to high school.  Book bags and supplies must be brand new.
“The outpouring of kindness within the community always warms my heart,” Jennifer Sneider at J Cuts said. “So many people stop by to drop off donations. Many of my customers do not hesitate to hand me five or 10 dollars so I can pick up what we are falling short on. It is amazing how it all balances out for children in need!”

For the second time last year, Bright Horizons Day Care, 3 Corporate Drive, held its own collection and dropped off donations.  Barb’s Corner Consignment, 25 West Main St.,     Ansonia, joined the drive last year. Minuteman Press, 427B Howe Ave., again donated collection posters. Other local businesses and organizations are invited and encouraged to join in by holding collections of their own.

 For a third year coordinators of the drive were contacted by Jackie Romaniuk, Dental Health Care Specialist with the Connecticut Dental Health Partnership, dental plan for HUSKY Health. They provided oral kits each containing a tooth brush, toothpaste, floss, and oral health education. 
According to Romaniuk, “The oral health kits contain tips to keep the mouth healthy as well as the importance of maintaining a healthy mouth for the benefit of a person’s general health. The beginning of the school year traditionally correlates with starting new routines and habits. This seems like the perfect opportunity to spread the oral health message of the importance of daily oral hygiene and scheduling a dental exam.”

HUSKY Health members can contact the CTDHP call center at 855-CT-DENTAL or visit www.ctdhp.com for help connecting to one of the 1,900 dental providers available.
More than 200 oral kits were given to students who received back to school donations, as well as the Milford Department of Children & Families office.

Children receiving donations from this community drive last year are served by TEAM, Inc. and Bradley School in Derby, the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, and the Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Resource Center all of Shelton; along with BHcare in Ansonia. 
“The Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley is forever grateful for receiving backpacks and dental kits to support our families in need,” Jen DeLeon, Unit Director, said. “The smiles on our members' faces are absolutely priceless as they feel so much more confident getting ready for their first day of school!” 

For more information call Jennifer Sneider at J Cuts, 203-924-4107.

This is a press release from J Cuts.