OKEECHOBEE — The Kiwanis Club of Okeechobee held their annual school supply drive to benefit children and families from The Real Life Children’s Ranch in Okeechobee.

The Real Life Children’s Ranch (RLCR) is a faith-based ministry that offers residential, family-style group foster homes for boys and girls who have been abused, abandoned and/or neglected.

For over two decades the Kiwanis Club of Okeechobee has held a school supply drive raising money and donating supplies to give to the Ranch. With the help of an anonymous donor that matches the clubs’ donation dollar for dollar up to $1000, the club was able to donate more than $2000 to go along with a lot of school supplies for the upcoming school year.

Mark Mayers, the executive director for RLCR says that, “There is a need for supplies and clothing not only for the beginning of the school year but for when families are uprooted from their home and placed with them throughout the school year. It is a very traumatic experience for the children and new school supplies and clothing goes a long way to help.”

Mayers went on to say, “The beginning of the school year is different for their children because most of them are from other counties, so on top of the traumas they are dealing with they are also starting at a new school without knowing anyone.”

School begins Thursday, Aug. 10 for Okeechobee County Schools.

For more information on Real Life Children’s Ranch, visit rlcr.org