The University of Houston community is asked to help provide classroom supplies for underprivileged school students as the Houston Alumni Organization (HAO), Houston Coca-Cola Bottling Co. and H-E-B team up for the 15th annual Operation School Supplies (OSS).

The campus drive begins Monday, June 27 and ends Monday, Aug. 8. The drive will include a contest to encourage sponsorship of schools and districts. Prizes will be awarded to the UH department raising the most money.

Faculty and staff can leave school supplies in the collection bins at various campus locations. The deadline to donate cash is Friday, July 8, but school supplies will be collected until the end of the campus drive. All funds collected for sponsorship will help HAO to purchase and donate UH pencils to students in targeted schools.

The campus drive is part of the citywide OSS, which will kick off Wednesday, July 6, and end Sunday, Aug. 7. The goal is to surpass the $140,000 worth of school supplies collected in the 2004 campaign. During the citywide drive, Houstonians can bring school supplies to area H-E-B grocery stores, purchase Coca-Cola products and contribute cash through the scan card system. A portion of the revenues generated from the sale of Coca-Cola products will be donated to OSS.

Sponsors include FOX 26 KRIV-Houston, UPN 20, the Houston Zoo, Clear Channel (Sunny 99.1), the Houston Astros, the United Way of Texas Gulf Coast and Houston Community Newspapers.

For more information, visit the HAO’s Web site at http://www.myCougarConnection.com/oss/ or contact Kathy Anzivino at 713-743-5478 or KAnzivino@uh.edu.

Francine Parker
fparker@central.uh.edu