Registration for a program that provided school supplies to more than 750 Jackson County children a year ago has begun.

The goal of Rock’n Ready is to ensure that 100 percent of the schoolchildren in the county arrive prepared on the first day of school.

“The youth of this county represent our future,” said Missy Woods, the program’s chairwoman and county service director of Human Services Inc.

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“The school supply program ensures our youth are prepared to start school ready to learn and sends a wonderful message of the importance of community involvement,” Woods said.

Rock’n Ready is a collaboration of organizations whose goal is to ensure an increased number of children from low-income families throughout Jackson County will have basic school supplies, Woods said.

Families from Jackson County can register for free basic school supplies by calling United Way 2-1-1 to register by July 15.

“People have slowly begun to call in order to register their children for the school supplies,” said Alicia McCreary, United Way 2-1-1 director.

“We would like more families to call now to avoid the rush as the July 15 deadline approaches,” she said. “Waiting until the deadline draws closer backs up incoming calls and makes the caller have a longer waiting period.”

Parents or guardians must register the children by calling 2-1-1 or 812-376-6666 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. After children are registered, the household will receive a postcard with information about their time for pickup at the July 30 event.

The supplies distributed will include backpacks and limited basic school supplies for the 2016-17 school year.

Dylan Purlee, the former principal at Seymour-Redding Elementary School, founded the Rock’n Ready school supply collection and distribution event with Jackson County United Way in 2013 to provide children from low-income families with free school supplies.

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Parents or guardians may register the children by calling 2-1-1 or 812-376-6666 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For information on how you can be a part of the Rock’n Ready initiative, contact Bonita Dobbs at Jackson County United Way at 812-522-5450 or [email protected].

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