Bartell Drugs will be kicking off its 8th annual “School Tools for Kids in Need” drive this month, from Monday, August 8 to Sunday, August 28. Donations of school supplies will be accepted at all 58 of the drug store’s locations, including the two in Queen Anne, supporting local students through the World Vision’s Kids in Need Resource Center in Renton. From the press release:

Donated school supplies will help re-stock the Kids in Need Resource Center, where teachers–whose students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch programs–”shop” free of charge for school supplies to help meet students’ needs. Over the past year 120 schools throughout the Puget Sound region were served by the center, with an average pick up of $700 in donated items for each of the nearly 2,500 teacher visits.

Bartell’s says drives like this one are even more important in such tough economic times, when many cannot afford to purchase the items they need for school. Federal Way-based World Vision, a globally-known charitable organization, estimates that as many as 58,000 local students could begin the upcoming school year without the basic school supplies.

“With so many area children lacking basic school supplies, there’s never been a more important time to support this drive. Over the past seven years we’ve appreciated the support by our customers and the public for their donations,” Bartell Drugs Chairman and CEO George D. Bartell said in a statement.

Mead, Avery and Bic have teamed up with Bartell’s to support this year’s “School Tools for Kids in Need” drive. A “Basic Needs” list of suggested donation items found in Bartell’s “School Aisles” include:

• Paper Mate  #2 Pencils – 20 Count
• Bic Cristal or Round Stic Ink Pens – 10 pack (Blue or Black)
• Elmer’s Glue – Glue-All or School Glue/4 oz. bottles
• Kids’ Scissors – pointed or blunt
• Avery Glue Stic/2 pack – Acid-free, photo-safe, permanent and washable
• Pentel Hi-Polymer Erasers – 3 pack
• Avery Poly Binders – 1/2″ or 1″ sizes
• Crayons – 24 colors
• Avery Hi-Liter Markers – Yellow or Pink
• Erasers – 25 pack cap erasers or 4 pack pink

The Seattle Storm will also be joining Bartell’s, World Vision and Star 101.5 at a special “Back-to-School Night” game on August 28 to raise awareness and collect donations. For more information check out the Bartell’s website.