Despite the fact that Howard County is one of the richest counties in the nation, more than 5,500 (11.3 percent) of its public school students must rely on the free and reduced-price meal program for nutritious food their families cannot afford. More than 300 of them are homeless, according to the local nonprofit Prepare for Success.

Donate school supplies to kids in need through Aug. 8 at Columbia Association gyms or your village center. Look for the large yellow collection bins.

CA's Volunteer Center Serving Howard County is a sponsor of this community project, which will help provide supplies to Howard County Public School students who can't afford them.

Supplies needed include backpacks, three-hole lined paper, highlighters, subject dividers, pink erasers, colored pencils, marble composition books, ball point pens, pocket folders, blunt scissors, zippered pencil pouches, magic markers, 2-inch three-ring binders, glue sticks, 12-inch rulers, No. 2 pencils and multi-subject spiral notebooks.

Other drop-off locations include Howard County libraries, Columbia Gateway Building in Columbia and George Howard Building in Ellicott City. Tax-deductible checks can be mailed to Prepare for Success, 6800 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, MD 21045. Sponsor two students for $25, four students for $50, eight students for $100 or 40 students for $500.

For more information, call 410-309-9695 or e-mail PrepareForSuccess@Gmail.com.

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