It’s been wonderful, I’m glad to assist students in any way, shape or form. This is one small token or method of having students know they are appreciated and welcomed on campus.
“After buying my textbooks, I didn’t think I could afford any other supplies. I was using leftover pages from notebooks and trying to find pens in bags or drawers. I only took a few necessities, but this really comes as a relief for me. Thank you again.”
This is just one example of the many notes that Cynthia Svoboda, ’84, has received over the past 10 years.
Svoboda, who serves as acting dean of Library Services, noticed that students often came to the library looking for a pen or pencil or asked if there were any old binders lying around that they could have.
“It really was that simple. I saw that there was a need and knew we could fill it by collecting resources,” she said.
Her idea was to create School Supplies 4 U. First, she recruited her husband Frank to build a bookshelf.
To fill those shelves, she reached out to the campus community and asked for new or gently used binders, paper, pens, pencils, index cards, sticky notes and more, and made them available for free to students in need.
The idea took off, and a decade later School Supplies 4 U remains as popular as ever.
Even in today’s technology-driven world, there is surprisingly still a need for tangible school supplies.
“I know things are moving onto AI, and a lot is done online now, but the resources still fly off the shelves. There is still a need,” Svoboda said.
Over the years, faculty and staff have made sure the shelves remain stocked. Students have also pitched in.
“Sometimes at the end of the year, if they are in good condition, students will donate things like plastic protectors, graph paper and other items,” Svoboda said.
School Supplies 4 U is also designed to make it easy for students. They do not have to check in with anyone and can simply walk over to the bookshelf and take what they need. No questions asked.
“It really is for anyone who needs it,” Svoboda said. “It might be that someone has just forgotten an item that day and needs to grab a pen.”
Whatever the reason, the supplies are there, she said.
The bookshelf is located on the main floor of the Maxwell Library in the copy center and printing area. Those looking to make donations can drop off school supplies at the service desk on the main floor of the library.
Svoboda plans to keep School Supplies 4 U going for as long as possible.
“As long as I’m here, it will be available, and I’ll leave it to anyone willing to do it after I leave,” she said. “It’s been wonderful, I’m glad to assist students in any way, shape or form. This is one small token or method of having students know they are appreciated and welcomed on campus.”
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