Soon, school will be starting again.

And, for parents, that means shopping for school supplies and, for far too many in our area, that means worrying about how to pay for all their children need on the first day of school.

Thankfully, there are groups out there to help families in need get school supplies.
The Tools 4 Schools event will be held on Aug. 3 at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ironton.

On the same day, United Way of the River Cities and Ohio University will be holding their annual Stuff the Bus event at the South Point Walmart.

Both organizations are seeking volunteers to help and people to donate supplies.

We ask everyone to help out those who are less fortunate, especially with something as basic as pencils, pens, notebooks, crayons, paper, backpacks or money to help buy those things.

To help out Tools 4 Schools, call 740-543-4727. To volunteer with Stuff the Bus, go to the go to www.unitedwevolunteer.org/need/detail/?need_id=440206 or stop by with supplies on Aug. 3.

No kid should have to start school by asking to borrow a pencil.