With the start of the school year fast approaching, LifeWire is asking the community for help in providing school supplies to our kids and teens in need. Starting the new school year equipped with basic school supplies can make a remarkable difference in building confidence and success for kids in school, LifeWire officials say.

“Many of these children have never had the luxury of being prepared for the school year,” LifeWire executive director Barbara Langdon said in a statement. “They have been living in our homeless shelter, will be starting over at a new school, and as a result can have a hard time focusing on their school work because of the instability in their lives.”

Donors and businesses can make a big difference in the lives of LifeWire children and teens by donating supplies from our Back to School Wish List below, or by making an online donation at www.lifewire.org.

LifeWire advocates will collect items until Sept. 2 (Labor Day).

Backpacks and supplies will be hand-delivered to LifeWire kids before school starts. Donated items can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at LifeWire’s office in Bellevue and any day from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at The Game Neighborhood Grill and Bar in Kirkland.

The Game Neighborhood Grill and Bar is located at 13510 100th Ave. NE in Kirkland.

For more information, call or email Resource Coordinator Karen Jones at 425-562-8840 ext. 319 or karenjj@lifewire.org

Back to school wish list:

• Backpacks

• #2 Pencils

• Notebook paper

• Composition books

• Spiral notebooks

• Highlighters

• Memory sticks/flash drives

• Post-it notes

• Erasers

• Headphones (for computer use)

• Ziploc bags (all sizes)

• Colored pencils

• 2-inch or larger binders

• Colored markers

• Crayola crayons

• Markers

• Scissors

• Hand sanitizer

• Glue sticks (white)

• Tape

• Calculators

• Rulers

• Tissues

• Folders

• Anti-bacterial soap

• Pencil boxes

• 3-ring notebooks