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The ongoing ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic changed a lot of things about school for local students, but the need for supplies wasn’t one of them.

In fact, students need more supplies than when school was conducted in person. They still need pencils, pens, notebooks, art supplies and more, but now they also have a higher need for things like their own small dry-erase boards and markers, earbuds and other things that enhance at-home, virtual learning.

Local folks who are members of the “Divine Nine” took it upon themselves to hold a school supply giveaway recently.

The nine fraternities and sororities that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council, represented locally by their alumni chapters, made the event happen on Saturday. The sororities put together 250 bags, and the fraternities gave $800 in donations that helped purchase additional school supplies, gift cards and personal protective equipment for volunteers.

The event was conducted wisely with the pandemic in mind, with volunteers handing out supplies while keeping a safe distance from drivers who stayed in their vehicles in the drive-through format.

Students and teachers are coping admirably with this new normal, and we all hope that the situation will be safe enough for them to get back to in-person schooling soon. Until then, our students and teachers deserve to be supported in every way possible to help them succeed, stay on track and return to school better than ever.

We send a big thank-you to the Divine Nine for their constant community support and the great success of this school supply giveaway.