Gloucester’s United Emergency Shelter Team program is looking to collect as many school supplies, donations and support it can to help community children in need to go back to school with the supplies they need. 

Last year, Connected Communities, the GUEST shelter and many churches came together to launch the initiative of collecting school supplies. This year, The Salvation Army is joining in the effort. 

“Prior to the start of the 2018-2019 school year, this community and the amazing people who help support the non-profits in this are helped over 200 children obtain the supplies they needed to go back to school,” said GUEST executive director John Seltzer. “We are praying that we can do the same again this year … This not only helps the child, but also helps the educator as well.”

He said the goal is to collect all the supplies from various drop-off locations by Aug. 24 and 25. Then, he said the program plans to set up Labor Day weeke...