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TUCSON - Our kids need your help this school year with all the necessary classroom supplies. Everything from paper and pencils to jump drives and printer paper is in need.

We are teamed-up with the Tucson Association of Realtors collecting items through August 1st in our News 4 Tucson Kristi's Kids School Supplies Drive.

We went to see what the teachers need in the Marana and Catalina Foothills school districts.

"How sad if we can't provide enough if we can't provide enough paper to learn how to read and write?" says Sarah Clem, Principal at Thornydale Elementary in the Marana District.

"More than half of the students here are on free or reduced lunch, live in poverty. And they come to school without the supplies they need."

The need in Marana is critical and very basic.

"Crayons, pencils, writing paper, copy paper, folders, backpacks. Our classrooms need Kleenex," says Clem.

She says every teacher she's ever met spends money out of pocket.

The same is true for Catalina Foothills.

"They literally spend their first and maybe even their second paycheck on outfitting their classroom and making it beautiful."

Mary Setliff is Principal at Esperero Canyon Middle School. She says despite being a district in the more affluent area of town, state budget cuts are impacting her classrooms too.

Catalina Foothills needs the basics also like pencils, pens and paper. And something new this year.

"Just like pencils and pens anymore a flash drive is part of being well equipped," Setliff explains.

There's also a need for supplies in the science labs and art classes.

"And those needs include high quality supplies. Because literacy and technology and numeracy really require students to have really good supplies."

For more information about the News 4 Tucson Kristi's Kids School Supplies Drive and where you can drop off supplies please click here.

http://www.kvoa.com/pages/kristis-kids-school-supply-drive/