Seminole County staff joins community partner for back-to-school donation drive

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Child welfare staff in the Seminole County office of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) recently joined forces with the Salvation Army to provide back-to-school supplies for children and youth. More than 150 backpacks loaded with school supplies were distributed.

"We hosted a community potato bar to raise money," says Peggy Ellwanger, DHS child welfare secretary. "We gave the money we collected to the Salvation Army for them to purchase supplies and backpacks."

DHS staff who volunteered their own time to pack and distribute the donations included Shelly Wood, Brandy Simpson, Peggy Ellwanger, Shereata Ellis, Rebekah Clark and Ranea Lantz. Ellwanger says the Seminole County staff has teamed-up with the Salvation Army before.

"The Salvation Army is one of our great community partners," she says. "We have worked with them on this project for five years. Along with school supplies, families also received clothing vouchers that can be used at the Salvation Army thrift store."

The vouchers are good for three sets of clothing for each child and can be redeemed until August 1. The Salvation Army thrift store for Seminole and Pottawatomie counties is located at 330 E. 9th Street in Shawnee.

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From left: Brandy Simpson, Peggy Ellwanger, Shereata Ellis, Rebekah Clark

Shelly Wood (left) helps distribute backpacks