By Becky Maxedon

The Lake Havasu City Realtor’s Association does something special at the beginning of each school year. They’ve been doing it for a while and it’s an important cog in the whole back-to-school buzz.

The Realtor’s Association conducts a drive for school supplies to help ensure the community classrooms are well equipped to meet the needs of both teachers and learners.

Some of the donated school supplies are on display at the LHAR meeting Wednesday morning. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Brenda Atkinson, owner/Broker of Destination Havasu and LHAR member said, “We are actually at the Board of Realtors today and for the last four years, we have grouped together because we found that teachers were buying their own school supplies and we didn’t think that was right.

“And this is an amazing group and when we put our heads together we can pretty much accomplish anything.”

This year, Realtors joined with businesses throughout the community and for about six weeks the collection drive has been ongoing.

“What we are doing today is giving out our total and we’re proud to say we are at $13,000 and we have a $1,000 grant commitment from Wal Mart. We fell we’ll easily push over $15,000 in cash contributions. We also have supply donations and we have discount in services. It’s been a very successful year.”

Realtors attending the meeting Wednesday morning applaud after LHUSD Superintendant Diana Asseir speaks about the school supplies. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Lake Havasu Unified School District Superintendent Diana Asseier was on hand to accept the donations.

“Oh my gosh, last year was the first time for me working with the Realtors and when I got the call this year and they said they were ready to do this again, I was excited,” Asseier said.

She said the Realtors talked with principals and got their wish lists.

“It’s nice for some of the things that aren’t readily available in our warehouse or that schools need and don’t have to go out and get for themselves,” she said.

The Realtors Association hosted a luncheon for new teachers and that enabled them to feel comfortable contacting them and telling them what they could use, Asseier said.

In the process, Asseier said the Realtors also managed to get the district a hundred plus buckets so schools can have bucket drum band.

“Our music teachers already have the buckets on the floor and kids are practicing,” she said.

“This has been great for our district. It’s an awesome partnership.”

Hal Christiansen speaks at the LHAR meeting Wednesday morning. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

School supplies are on display at the LHAR meeting Wednesday morning. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene