Uptown Cheapskate, an upscale thrift and resale store with four Phoenix-area locations, will be hosting a school supply drive for the children at Sojourner Center from Saturday, July 30 to Saturday, Aug. 6. Last year, Sojourner Center provided shelter and support to more than 1,200 women and children impacted by domestic violence.  Of those served on the campus, 52 percent were children.

“Sojourner Center is committed to addressing one of the significant gaps in the continuum of care in domestic violence shelters for children in the area of academic readiness. By collaborating with Uptown Cheapskate resale stores, we will be able to provide what every child deserves as they start off the new school year:  the all-important school supplies,” says Teri Hauser, Chief Advancement Officer for Sojourner Center.

Items most needed are backpacks for boys and girls ages 5 to 17 years old, spiral notepads in sets of twos (wide and college-ruled), boxes of pencils and pens, boxes of crayons and colored markers, reusable quality plastic water bottles, two-inch binders, and loose-leaf “filler” paper (wide and college-ruled). 

Donations can be dropped off at any of the four Uptown Cheapskate locations: Peoria, North Phoenix, Scottsdale and Chandler.  Those who donate three or more items from the supply list or one backpack will be given a coupon off their next purchase.  All guests will also be given a chance to win gift cards with values from $100, $50 and $25 at Uptown.

“Each of our stores is locally owned,” says Brenda Spezzacatena of the Chandler store. “We’re also parents of school-aged children.  We may not be able to help Sojourner’s youngsters directly but providing them with basic tools for school is a great way to start.”