To help local families prepare for school, the Florida Governmental Utility Authority (FGUA) will connect school supplies to deliver to local schools, according to FGUA Customer Services Director Barbara Kerby in Lehigh Acres.

FGUA provides water and sewer services to much of Lehigh.

The school district supplies all the necessary items for education, but most schools provide a list of supplemental items that can enrich the student’s learning experience, she said.

These include basic items such as pencils, pens, and notebook paper.

A donation box is available in the FGUA customer service office in the Bealls Shopping Center to collect No. 2 pencils, crayons, black or blue ink pens, and lined notebook paper.

Each of these basic items can be used by any grade level and will be donated to local schools that will distribute them to students unable to bring their own items, Kerby said.

The first day of school is Monday, Aug. 23 but donations will continue to be accepted after school starts to help as many students as possible.

The Lehigh Acres customer service office is located at 1229 Homestead Rd. The office is behind the McDonald’s and in front of the new Bealls Outlet store. Call 989-4437 for more information.