School supplies, the tools of learning, bring esteem, respect and gratitude

THANK you very much. How sweet the words. Once again generous readers have helped low-income students return for a new school year equipped to learn.

On behalf of legions of young people and their grateful families, it cannot be repeated too often: thank you very much. Contributors to the school-supply drive of The Seattle Times Fund for the Needy work a practical kind of magic.

All of the grade-appropriate supplies happily stuffed in backpacks give eager minds the tools they need to do their assignments.

In a time of sustained economic anxiety, the generosity of readers lifts a burden on households stretched to the limit. The relief provided family budgets is real, and deeply appreciated.

Another kind of relief is tucked into every backpack handed over to those students with the big, broad smiles. They begin a new school year with the same things everyone else lugs down the hallways. Fitting in without a fuss is a powerful gift.

This editorial page campaign runs from July Fourth through Labor Day. Please know contributions received later will reach children throughout the school year. Supplies are needed to help late arrivals, new arrivals and homeless families in the days and months ahead.

Our thanks go to three fine agencies that turn reader donations into backpacks crammed with the tools of learning: Hopelink, the YWCA of Seattle-King County-Snohomish County, and the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness. They screen recipients, purchase supplies and organize and distribute them.

Their hard work is complemented by the glorious efforts of others in the community who respond to the same need. For example, Congregations for Kids' Good Start Back to School project works with the Bellevue School District. Their 15th annual project involved 28 ecumenical congregations, two service organizations, a high-school student organization and a corporation.

Thomas Jefferson said "thank you" best:

"The reward of esteem, respect and gratitude (is) due those who devote their time and efforts to render the youths of every successive age fit governors for the next."

One can predict those helped this year will help others in the future. That is how gratitude truly reveals itself.