TAFE, which stands for the Texas Association of Future Educators, has decided to help out a local school in need. The Hampshire-Fannett Elementary School sustained substantial damage due to a fire on March 16, and TAPE members are currently hosting a supply drive, in which various items will be donated to the elementary school.

The group will be taking supplies for the office, such as: copy paper, pens, scissors, staplers, staples, paper clips, tape and dispensers, sticky notes, and large dry erase boards. For the students, the following supplies is being taken: pencils, spiral notebooks, crayons, markers, paint, pencil boxes, glue, Kleenex, hand sanitizer, notebook, glue sticks, scissors, Pink Erasers, construction paper, dry erase markers and rulers. For the nurse’s office, the following supplies are being taken: Band-Aids, Neosporin, gauge, alcohol pads, hydrogen peroxide, ice packs.

“Because we are a teaching organization, we saw fit to conduct a service opportunity for our school and provide school supplies for an elementary school in our new district that was in need,” TAFE adviser Babs Foster said.

Those wishing to participate can drop off items to the front office by Thursday, March 27 or they may drop them at any Neches Federal Credit Union location.

Also, the third period class that has the most supplies donated will receive a pizza and soda party.

“Having a competition was a fun, friendly way to get the whole school involved,” Foster said.