A local chapter of a worldwide fraternal organization has donated a batch of school supplies to Nansemond Parkway Elementary School.

Members of the Order of the Eastern Star Nansemond Chapter 31 purchased pencils, pens, notebooks, erasers, loose-leaf paper and other items essential to learning in the classroom.

“We have adopted this school as our school to give supplies to, because they share our name,” chapter member Edith Staton said.

Staton said the chapter would celebrate its 100th anniversary in December. Princess Benn-Coker, currently its worthy matron — or leader — said the chapter started out in headquarters on Pine Street, then moved to 168 Tyne St.

The chapter meets the third Saturday of every month, Benn-Coker said, adding, “We make sure we study our Bible, and we bring everybody up to date on the community activity of the month. And we do fundraisers.”

During the next three months, she said, the chapter is planning a yard sale, a stay-at-home tea and a breakfast.

“We have about 30 members at this time,” she said. “We range from about 50 to 75. It’s (membership) kind of declining, because the younger people like the younger sororities.”

Benn-Coker said grandchildren of some chapter members attend Nansemond Parkway, where “we hope we can fill in some of the gaps.”

“This area was hit with job decreases, and things like that,” she said, “so we are hoping we can fill in some of the gaps for the kids.”

Chanel Bryant, principal at Nansemond Parkway, said the donation would “help our students, who may not have supplies, replenish throughout the school year.”

Teachers often spend their own money on supplies, she said, and the chapter’s support would help minimize that.

Benn-Coker said chapters in Virginia pool their fundraising proceeds to also support The Genieve Shelter, which helps woman escape domestic violence, and the Boys & Girls Club.

“We (also) give money to cancer research,” she added.