ECKAN’s telephone rang off the proverbial hook Thursday as Lawrence-area residents called in with offers to help buy school supplies for needy children.

“It’s incredible,” said ECKAN coordinator Janet Collier. “We’ve had calls all morning. We’ve had civic organizations come in. We just had an anonymous donor give $500.”

Earlier this week, the agency announced it had run out of money to help low-income families buy school supplies.

“It’s pretty clear this is a community that really cares,” Collier said. “We want to send out a big ‘thank you’ to everybody.”