St. Joseph School District administrators’ phones will start ringing soon.

“Our office will probably take about 30 or 40 phone calls from parents, asking where they can get assistance with school supplies,” said Brian Shindorf, the district’s assistant director of elementary education. “We’ve got families that call and say, ‘If we don’t have some type of help with this, our child is going to show up to school on the first day without supplies.’”

District staff point the parents to the Salvation Army, which is holding its annual Operation School Supply drive.

Before Aug. 7, the Salvation Army hopes to collect enough school supplies for 700 children — the number of children whose families are expected to sign up for the notebooks, pencils, scissors and other items.

With more than half of district students eligible for free and reduced-price lunches due to family income, Mr. Shindorf said the need for donated supplies is clearly there.

“It’s fairly safe to say that half of our students are in a place where they need assistance for school supplies,” he said.

He suspects the need could be greater this year than last.

“I think the need is pretty great, especially at a time when so many costs have gone up,” he said.

Salvation Army Maj. Carol Lemirand said it’s hard to know whether the drive is on track to meet its goal since not all donations are in. Typically, the drive receives a big boost following this weekend’s sales tax holiday.

Ms. Lemirand hopes the Salvation Army meets the need.

“I can’t imagine the heart of a child who doesn’t have what they need to start school,” she said. “It’s so fun to see how excited these kids are when we give the supplies away. They like to take everything out of the wrapping and packaging right away. They are so excited to go back to school.”

For more information on giving or receiving school supplies, call 232-5824.

The Salvation Army will distribute the supplies to families on Thursday, Aug. 7, during a health fair at the Salvation Army, 618 S. Sixth St.

Nancy Hull can be reached

at nancyhull@npgco.com.