SAUGUS — Saugus Karate Kung-Fu is kicking up its annual collection for back-to-school items and donating them to Saugus Public Schools.
The studio has been hosting a school supply drive for five years, and typically donates collected goods to Cradles to Crayons, a non-profit organization that provides homeless and low-income children with essential items.
While the company still supports the organization, they decided to help children at a more local level this year.
“This year in particular we decided to go local and inquire within the Saugus Public Schools whether there was anything students needed,” said owner Jason Scaduto. “Every year we try to give back. We’ve been relatively fortunate. Business has always been good, so we always try to do something different.”
The drive kicked off in time for Founder’s Day, which brings hundreds of residents to Saugus Center each year, and is historically one of the studio’s best collection days, said administrative assistant Roseann Luongo.
Luongo said she reached out to Superintendent Dr. David DeRuosi’s office to get a feel for what students needed. In an email, executive assistant Amy Guider told her there is always a need for backpacks, lunch bags, and any and all school supplies, and “basically anything down the back-to-school aisle.”
Guider recommended binders and three- and five-subject notebooks for upper grade levels. She also suggested crayons, markers, colored pencils, No. 2 pencils, rulers, pencil sharpeners, folders, one-, three-, and five-subject notebooks, and textbook covers.
The studio isn’t the only group looking out for the needs of Saugus students. First Congregational Church, New Hope Assembly of God, and St. John’s Episcopal Church have each been donating supplies for several years.
Oaklandvale Elementary School principal Eric Jones said the school recently received some of the donated items, which are available for teachers to use if any of their students need anything, he said.
He added that the school’s Parent Teacher Organization is always stepping up when there is a need for supplies.
Donations can be made at Saugus Karate Kung-Fu, 304 Central St., through Sept. 23.
