The parental pressure of purchasing school supplies will be lessened for some Dawson County families this fall, thanks in part to the efforts of Dawson County Family Connection.

Nancy Stites, coordinator of the organization, received nearly 30 scientific calculators July 7, donated by the Nordon Corporation for the organization's Stuff the Bus school supply drive.

The drive is focused on providing school supplies to those students and families of Dawson County that are most in need.

"The hardest thing to get through donation is calculators, so we are happy to be able to provide those," said Ebby Hamby of the Nordson Corporation. "We received feedback from Wanda Grigsby at Dawson County High, telling us exactly what type of calculators that students are required to have, and we did our best to fulfill that request."

"I've been with the [Dawson County Family Connection] for six years, and we've been running the school supply drive every year I've been here," Stites said. "Some students and families don't have the funds to purchase what is needed, so we ask the community for donations, and they always come through for us."

Hamby said Nordson was founded as a family business, and the corporation tries to keep that feeling alive today.

"Everywhere Nordson is located, we are committed to giving back to the community," Hamby said. "We have a special fundraising/giving committee, and the corporation sets aside funding for programs like [Stuff the Bus]."

Students must qualify to receive help from the supply drive. Low income families, foster children and those who are homeless are eligible.

"We've created partnerships with several organizations in the community," Stites said. "And they all help to support the kids who need it."

Family Connection will highlight the school supply drive with its Stuff the Bus event, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. July 23 in the Walmart parking lot. The organization will accept donations of any school supplies, but Stites is worried that certain supplies will run out quickly.

"We need all of the basic school supplies, but we're probably going to need bookbags first," Stites said. "We'll be running out of those this year."

In addition to the July 23 event, the organization is also accepting donations at the Dawsonville Muncipal Complex, Big Canoe Chapel, the local family connection office, Steamer's, Fred's and Dollar General.

For more information, or to find out how to help, contact Stites at (706) 265-1981.