It seems early to be thinking about kids going back to school. It isn’t. Many parents already are worried about how they will come up with the cost of notebooks, calculators, pens, pencils and all the rest of the supplies their children will need when school begins on Aug. 31.

We live in a beautiful area of the country. That doesn’t mean we don’t have kids in need. We have parents without homes struggling to find the money to dress their kids for school let alone come up with the increasing amount of money they need to begin the school year. We have children who are homeless. Over 40 percent of children in elementary school are without adequate food and are on free and reduced lunches. School supplies are difficult to purchase for many families.

Poverty has many definitions. Unfortunately, many families in Sequim fall into that definition.

While this is a sad thing in our community, you have a chance to turn it into an exciting time. You can help by donating funds to the Back to School Committee which is organizing the Back to School Fair. Families can come to the fair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at the Boys & Girls Club in Sequim. Children from birth to age 18 can receive free supplies for school as well as find out about vision screening, get car seat checks, learn about local preschools, and even have free haircuts and vision screening. Information on many programs in our community will be available at this event.

While this sounds like a great event, it takes a lot to make it happen. We have a Stuff the Bus event where people can learn about what supplies children need and they can purchase them and put them in bins at Walmart. These become a part of the Back to School Fair event. Other places you will find bins to donate supplies include Safeway, QFC, Castell Insurance and at the Sequim School District administration office.

If you aren’t going to be available to buy supplies, consider two other ways you can help. We need volunteers for the day to help set up and help with the many activities. We also need money to buy the supplies that aren’t donated. We try to make backpacks available for any child. Calculators can be another expensive item. We always can use financial help to provided needed supplies. For more information about helping or the Back to School Fair, call Patsene Dashiell at 582-3264.

The fair this year is sponsored by the Sequim School District, Boy & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula, Parenting Matters/First Teacher, Castell Insurance, Sequim Soroptimists, Sequim-Dungeness Kiwanis Club and Molina Healthcare. We still need you to help.

Your contribution of time, effort or money could help a child or many children begin their school year more prepared to succeed. Children need you. Can you help?

Cynthia Martin is the founder of the First Teacher program and director of Parenting Matters Foundation.