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Big Fish Charitable Foundation partnership to boost Basic Needs Closets

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Gov. John Carney and Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long recently announced a partnership with Big Fish Charitable Foundation to help Delaware schools stock Basic Needs Closets.

Hundreds of elementary and middle school students across the First State again have access to free school supplies, hygiene products and other essentials this year. The help comes from the Basic Needs Closets program:

 

In August 2017, Gov. John Carney announced an initiative to stock basic needs closetsin 43 high-needs Delaware schools. 

Since then the closets have received supplies in time for the start of each school year thanks to the efforts of First State educators, businesses and healthcare institutions - partnering with the non-profit First Book.

Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long says the need for this type of assistance is growing, “If you look at schools that get food and Title I and other assistance in our state, those numbers certainly have increased. If you go to the University of Delaware Kids Count - [they] put out a wonderful report every year - that shows children have increased in poverty in our State. And so we just want to make sure that no child enters into the school setting without those supplies and hygiene products.”

Hall-Long notes that parents or guardians of students who need help do not need to meet income eligibility. The closets are open to all students in a way that no one is singled out as being low-income.

 
She and Gov. John Carney also recently announced a new partnership with Big Fish Charitable Foundation to assist with fundraising efforts for the Basic Needs Closets program.

 

"We know that the physical and emotional health of our studentsis directly related to their success and ability to learn," Hall-Long noted. "The partnership with the Big Fish Charitable Foundation will allow us to continue to serve students and provide them with the best chance to achieve and become stronger and healthier."

 

 

 

Kelli Steele has over 30 years of experience covering news in Delaware, Baltimore, Winchester, Virginia, Phoenix, Arizona and San Diego, California.