In coordination with the Cleveland-Bradley Emergency Management Agency, the museum is serving as a collection point and will also take the lead in delivering donations directly to the Bradley County and Cleveland City school systems.
The need became apparent when museum leaders realized the extent of last week’s tornado damage extended into the schools as well as 285 Bradley County homes that were destroyed. Another 195 homes suffered major damage and 176 minor damage.
These numbers equate to a previously unconsidered problem — that hundreds of area schoolchildren, as well as teachers, may have lost all their school supplies either from home damage or from the devastation reported at two county system schools, Michigan Avenue and Blue Springs Elementary.
“The Museum Center at Five Points is serving as a drop-off center for school supplies for students and teachers who have lost supplies due to the recent tornadoes in Bradley County,” Lutts said.
Those wishing to make donations on behalf of area children and teachers may deliver them to the museum, whose leaders will deliver them directly to the school systems.
“Anyone who has new school supplies that they know they will not need for the remainder of the school year are asked to donate them to students and teachers who have lost so much,” Lutts explained.
Types of items being accepted include backpacks (preferably new ones that can also be used next fall), 1-inch binders (preferably new or in good condition), filler paper, pencil cases (the type that go in binders), pencils (wooden and mechanical), rulers, colored pencils, crayons, washable markers, red pens, copy paper (full reams) and glue sticks (new).
Donors may deliver their contributions to the museum beginning today during regular business hours. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“All donations will be forwarded to the Bradley County Schools and to needy students at Cleveland City Schools,” Lutts stressed.
Questions may be directed to the museum at 339-5745.
The museum is located at 200 Inman St. at the intersection of Inman and Parker streets.
