In the lower level of the Columbia Borough School District offices, a community pantry provides support to families in need. Thanks to a partnership with Columbia Masonic Lodge 286, more students will have resources this coming school year.

Members of the lodge are encouraging people to donate school supplies, backpacks and other necessities to the community pantry. Donations will be accepted until Friday, Aug. 23, when they will become available for families in the district that need them.

A past master from the group's Lebanon lodge inspired Scott Zeamer, Columbia's worshipful master, to create the local fundraiser.

"They had started doing a backpack and school supplies fundraiser for their district (in Lebanon), and it had really taken off," Zeamer recalled.

The Masons got in touch with Columbia Borough School District administrators, who connected the organization with Brittany Kelley, home and school visitor for the district.

Kelley's job includes working with families experiencing homelessness, serving as the foster care liaison for the district and operating the community pantry. She was happy to partner with the Masons to offer even more support to families.

"I have at least three families a week who use the pantry," Kelley said, noting that the pantry includes shoes and clothing for people of all ages as well as nonperishable food items and bedding supplies such as air mattresses and pillows. At the end of this past school year, the district had identified 130 students who were homeless or experiencing transitional homelessness, she said.

The pantry relies wholly on donations from individuals, businesses and organizations. "If I'm lucky, sometimes we'll have diapers and wipes to give out," Kelley said. "It really depends on what we get. People can donate items, or they can donate funds to purchase items."

For their fundraiser, the Masons created an Amazon Wish List of needs. It can be found at https://amzn.to/3y8xx5j.

Supplies that are needed the most include pocket folders with three prongs, three- to five-subject notebooks, mechanical pencils, manual pencil sharpeners, pencil boxes or cases and backpacks.

Items will be stored at the pantry, and as needs arise, families can come in, choose a backpack and fill it with school supplies.

"Our goal is to remove as many barriers as possible," Kelley said of the pantry's mission. "We don't have control over a lot of things, but we want to make sure we do what we can to help. If those barriers are removed, people can have that sense of belonging, and they can focus on some of the bigger things while we can take the edge off of some of the smaller things."

Kelley noted that the pantry relies on a variety of community partners, including the Masons, to fulfill its mission. Volunteers from Manor Church helped to install shelves for clothes, and members of Reality Church organized and sorted clothing. Additional collaborators include Off the Streets, the Pennsylvania Furniture Mission and Hands Across the Street.

For the Masons, a project like this fits perfectly with the organization's vision.

"Since the Columbia Masons moved their lodge back to Columbia in late 2022 ... we have been looking for ways to make an impact in the community," shared David Weaver, assistant treasurer, adding that the organization also gives back to students through scholarships given annually to high school seniors. "The Masons are here to help support the community of Columbia. This is the first annual fundraiser, and we plan to have this be one of our marquee fundraisers that we hold every summer going forward. The goal is to grow and expand the fundraiser every year as we move forward."

For more information on the school supply drive, contact Kelley at 717-719-0296 or Weaver at david.weaver.columbiano.286@gmail.com. Donations may also be made in person at a drop box located at Hinkle's Restaurant, 261 Locust St., Columbia.