As students return to school after winter break, many low-income kids won’t have the most basic tools they need to succeed in the classrooms: pencils, paper and other essential supplies.

“School supplies get broken, disappear, get run down, so it’s important to have a midyear refill,” said Catherine Bolton, a counselor at Cordley Elementary School. “This time of year, Target is not having a big sale on school supplies, so to replace the supplies now is even more expensive.”

To ensure that low-income students in Douglas County have the school supplies they need, the United Way of Douglas County is hosting Tools for Schools on Wednesday at the United Way Center, 2518 Ridge Court. School counselors and others who work with low-income students at 30 area public schools will come together to learn about community resources available to the families they serve and receive free school supplies to distribute to the low-income students in their schools.

“As part of our education goal — to see that students succeed in school — United Way works with a wide array of partners, from the school districts in Douglas County to social service agencies, to provide students and their families with the wraparound support they need to do their best in school,” said Erika Dvorske, CEO of United Way of Douglas County. “United Way education partners like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Communities in Schools and Girls Scouts, have been shown to help students improve school performance. We are excited for this opportunity to help the school staff members who work on the front lines with students learn about the many organizations that are here to help.”

The school supplies for the event have been donated by the Douglas County community through a communitywide school supply drive in the fall.

For low-income families, getting free supplies will be a big relief, Bolton said. “This time of year, families are just trying to keep warm. They are counting every penny. It’s a tremendous load off, allowing them to buy food instead, or pay the gas bill or the water bill.”

The Lawrence school district resumes classes on Wednesday.

— Micki Chestnut is director of communications at the United Way of Douglas County.