BALLSTON SPA — Thanks to a donation from the Junior League of Schenectady and Saratoga Counties, every student at Wood Road Elementary School will begin the year with brand new school supplies.
Wood Road received over $10,000 worth of supplies as part of the Junior League’s ‘Operation Back to School.’ For the past 20 years, the organization has adopted a local school district and purchased supplies for students attending an elementary school within the district, said Denise Murphy McGraw, the program’s founder and the President of the Junior League of Schenectady and Saratoga Counties.
“What makes our program different is that we work with the educators to identify exactly all the supplies that the students need, that their teachers say they need, for a successful school year,” said Murphy McGraw. “We really just work very hard to ensure that it’s exactly the items that the educators believe that the students need for the school year.”
Wood Road principal Anders Rasmussen said the district is “so appreciative” of the donation.
“I know, as teachers, principals, it’s great for us,” said Rasmussen. “But more importantly, it’s for the kids and the families, to just remove one additional barrier that really is a barrier for some. We’re just really excited.”
Supplies purchased include pencils, crayons, binders, folders, and much more. Murphy McGraw said roughly 13,000 products were purchased in total, providing “everything” that a student would need to begin the school year.
“We spent about $10,000. The value inside that room is a lot more than that. We use coupons, we go to sales,” Murphy McGraw said.
Wood Road teacher Megan Haessig is a member of the Junior League, and initially brought the idea to Rasmussen, he said. Murphy McGraw noted the Junior League was “so happy” to work with the Wood Road and BSCSD staff.
“This was such a pleasure, to work with the folks in this particular building in this school district,” Murphy McGraw said. “It’s just been a true partnership. I would love to do it many more years here, because it’s just a wonderful, wonderful atmosphere.”
She said that while September can be a difficult month for some families, the Junior League prides themselves on “trying to ease that burden a little bit.”
“It might be the difference between paying your rent and getting new school clothes, and making sure they have all the supplies,” said Murphy McGraw. “We really want to make sure that everybody has what they need.”
“Just taking that off every family is a tremendous thing,” Rasmussen added. “But also knowing that all the kids are going to come in on the same foot in September, not worrying about it, not stressing it, I think is just great. … I’m just so appreciative, I know everybody here is in the district for this for our families.”
Rasmussen gave credit to the Junior League, Haessig, and Wood Road school counselor Cathy Roy for their help in the process, calling it a “significant undertaking.” He said it will be meaningful for every student at the school to begin the year on the same foot.
“I can’t say enough for those who haven’t seen it what it will mean to a kid to walk in on day one not even having to worry about that,” said Rasmussen. “It’s something that all of us know has been provided for every kid here in the same way, which is pretty cool.”
