Readiness To Learn would like to thank its many supporters of the Back To School Program in Coupeville that serves Coupeville and Oak Harbor students.

Amy McShane and the board of Harbor Haven made a donation with proceeds from The New Beginning Thrift Store that helped immensely in serving the students. Camber Christian, the missions and outreach coordinator of the Oak Harbor Living Faith Christian Center, organized a supply drive that garnered numerous stylish backpacks as well as many large boxes of needed items. We offer our gratitude to Coupeville Windermere, as they made a large donation and to the Coupeville Lions Club that also gave generously.

The “Back To School Project!” would also like to extend our appreciation to Living Hope Foursquare Church, Coupeville Library, the Coupeville branches of Whidbey Island Bank and Peoples Bank and Coupeville Coffee and Bistro for giving space in their business for the collection drop boxes. We want to thank the many other generous individuals that donated to the drop boxes located throughout the community, as well as all the generous donors who sent checks for the binders, composition  books, pencils, paper, calculators, markers, colored pencils, scissors, pencil boxes and many other items.

Readiness to Learn salutes our volunteers, for without their help, the program would not have run. Our heartfelt thanks to Maria Chamberlin, Carol Decker, Amy Briscoe, Kyla Briscoe, Tiffany Briscoe, Heather Nasgali, Tamika Nasgali and Jasmine Nasgali for their efforts.

As a result of all this community support, we were able to serve 84 Coupeville and Oak Harbor students. There were 36 children from Coupeville Elementary, 25 students from Coupeville Middle School, 23 teens from Coupeville High School as well as 16 Oak Harbor children. Generous donations allowed us to offer a gift card as well as school supplies so each child was able to start the school year with a new backpack, needed supplies and a new outfit. We continue to offer supplies throughout the year to homeless students as well as to newly enrolled children whose families are in need.

On the first day of classes, there were many smiling faces thanks to the wonderful caring support of our community.

– Mary Michell

Readiness to Learn, Coupeville