Possible School Supply Expansion

In an effort to give ALL Satanta students in grades PK-6 school supplies FREE of charge next year, the 21st Time is seeking a partnership with two local organizations: The Satanta Lions Club and Satanta PTO/FOKS. The following letter was sent to both organizations outlining how this project would work:


In 2012 the Satanta United Methodist Church’s 21^st Time Sunday school class launched a school-supply project for USD 507 students in grades PK-6. This project—which utilized Kits for Kids, an organization dedicated to providing non-profit entities a source for affordable school supplies—allowed us purchase school supplies for the 71.89% of our community’s elementary school population who are classified as economically disadvantaged and, therefore, qualify for free or reduced lunches. These students received their supplies free of charge; others were asked to pay $15 to cover the costs of their supplies.

Virtually all 185 students at the elementary participated in this project, and the feedback we’ve received from parents, teachers, and school administrators has been so positive that the 21^st Time seeks to expand this project next year to provide no-cost school supplies to every student who attends Satanta Elementary.  While we understand that many families are financially able to purchase school supplies, we believe that offering supplies to all students will help remove the stigma of receiving assistance and that providing supplies to all students will eliminate the confusion of asking families to self-identify whether or not they are in need of assistance. More importantly, we seek to expand to this project so that all children in our community may experience a simple gift of grace.

Meeting our goal of providing supplies to all children cannot be done, however, without the support of other organizations in the community of Satanta. With this in mind, the 21^st Time has developed a plan to make this goal a reality: The 21^st Time pledges to fund 70% of the entire cost of this project, the total cost of which is equivalent to roughly $3,000 (the average cost of a kit is $15; we’ll need about 200 kits).  The remaining 40% ($900) would be divided between two other local donors: Satanta Lions and Satanta PTO (FOKS) with each providing $450. While the 21^st Time will take care of all the logistics of ordering and delivering supplies, all three entities would receive equal recognition for their donations toward this important project, which, we hope, will become an annual event.

Should you want further details on this project, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I will be happy to explain the 21^st Time’s plan in more detail to you individually or at a meeting of your group. Thank you for taking the time to consider this proposal and thank you for all you do to make Satanta a better place.