Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Parents in Steamboat Springs are stretching their dollars this week as they fill up shopping carts with the school supplies their children will need for the start of classes. But some parents are struggling to afford all of the items.

On Friday, three shopping carts filled with donated supplies sat in the Bank of the West lobby in downtown Steamboat, ready to be distributed to local schools. Bank President Rosemarie Smith said even the smallest supplies can make a difference.

“In my line of work, you can see that people are going through a tough time financially,” Smith said. “We should be doing whatever we can to help students get the supplies they need.”

The bank is hosting a back to school supplies drive through Friday. It’s seeking a variety of items for children of all grades. Markers, binders and Crayola products have been the most popular donations so far, and the bank has provided customers with a consolidated list of supplies that they think children still need the most.

Teller Sue-Anne Vollmer still was in the process of finishing her back to school shopping for her two children Friday.

“I’ve pretty much gotten everything except for the disinfectant wipes and tissues,” she said.

Vollmer said she has spent more than $100 on supplies for her son Kyle, who will be a sixth-grader at Steamboat Springs Middle School. After crossing off items one by one on his back to school list, Vollmer said she knows how difficult it can be to obtain all of the required supplies.

“When I was in junior high school, my supply list was one-third the length of what it is today,” she said. “I know there are lot of people out there who cannot afford all of the supplies.”

Vollmer has spent the last week hunting for bargains in town and will substitute decorative supplies and recognizable brands for less expensive alternatives.

“In this economy, you have to stretch every dollar,” she said. “I might not get the latest fashion of composition books or a binder with the coolest design, but my kids still go to school with what they need.”

Donated supplies can be dropped off at the bank at 555 Lincoln Ave. Call 970-879-4040 for more information.