Peaceful Paths is hosting its fourth annual back-to-school drive to collect school supplies for children in grades pre-K through 12 whose families have been victims of domestic violence.
The drive began Monday and will run through July 22.
Peaceful Paths is a certified domestic violence center that provides aid and support to families who have survived domestic abuse, according to the organization’s website.
“Uniforms are expensive, and they are one of the last things on the mind of the people that we serve,” said John Thomas, the director of community giving and marketing for Peaceful Paths. “They have to go out and spend $30 or $40, if not more, per child. We decided that this was something that we could provide for our kids.”
Those interested in donating can drop off crayons, filler paper, backpacks, Wal-Mart gift cards and other school supplies at the Peaceful Paths outreach office, located at 2100 NW 53rd Ave., or at other sites, including Sunstate Federal Credit Union branches and the UF Mover Guys office on Newberry Road.
Brad Stumpff, the owner of UF Mover Guys, was a special education supervisor for Alachua County for 10 years.
“Kids would show up with no paper and no pencils,” Stumpff said. “The teachers submit the list of school supplies on the school website, and all the kids in the class would show up with them, except for the disadvantaged kids.”
