The non-profit organization Valley Churches United Missions has launched its annual school-supplies drive, in an effort to ensure all children have the necessary tools to receive a quality educational experience. The organization is looking for shoes, backpacks, pens and pencils, notebooks, highlighters, calculators, and everything else. A 40-dollar donation provides a package of all these items, and several more, to a local student. Donations should be marked with the word “backpacks,” and can be mailed to: V.C.U.M., p.o. box 367, Ben Lomond, California, 95005. Contributions can also be dropped off, at 9400-highway 9, or at Ben Lomond Gas Station, or the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce.