BACK-TO-SCHOOL BOXES TO HELP AREA STUDENTS

For the second year, Mercantile Bank has teamed up with the Area Wide United Way and its campaign to provide school supplies to children in need.

"We had a group of workers who wanted to do a community project," said Karen Green of Mercantile Bank. So last year, employees collected about $2,000 worth of supplies for students in Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

The school supplies were distributed by the United Way.

Carolyn McElrath, MaryJo Shelton and Carol Crawford, all Mercantile employees, were busy delivering the collection boxes Monday to area store locations. The large boxes, in the shape of a giant crayon box, can be found at Wal-mart, Country Mart and the Mercantile Bank branch in Jackson, Target, Schnucks, ShopKo and the Mercantile locations in Cape Girardeau.

Sarah VanHorn, ShopKo team leader said store employees "are involved with United Way and the Special Olympics in a big way."

The boxes will be used for school supplies collection through Aug. 7.

Nancy Jernigan, United Way executive director, said the Safe House also had requested school supplies this year for the mothers and children it serves.

"Some of the supplies will go to them, but the majority will be distributed to the Jackson and Cape Girardeau schools," she said.