Students at Pine Island Elementary had everything they needed to start the new year thanks to the Matlacha Hookers’ donation
Boxes and bins full of school supplies filled the tables at Pine Island Elementary School last Wednesday as the Matlacha Hookers made their annual donation to Principal Rob Mazzoli.
“Every year the Matlacha Hookers make me speechless,” Mazzoli said. “Every year they come through with all of the wonderful things they do for the community and the children at Pine Island Elementary. Look at all of this. .. everything the children need is right here. Our kids don’t have to worry when they come to school. They know they can start school with the supplies they need, ready to learn, ready to start a new year and not have to worry about anything. Thank you all so very much.”
“I’ve been a Matlacha Hooker for about a year,” said Cheryl Costa, a member of the organization’s board of directors “Every year the Matlacha Hookers delivers school supplies for the students of Pine Island Elementary. These supplies were collected from the businesses on Pine Island and Matlacha. We place bins at local businesses and people drop off supplies. Then we collect the bins. We have backpacks, ring binders, highlighters, pens, pencils … everything students need for the coming school year. Everyone puts in a lot of hard work and Nancy Chandler helped tremendously to put this together.”
The Matlacha Hookers were founded in 1998 by 21 women. Their goal and motto was, and still is, to “make a positive difference in the community.” Over 1,000 members have signed up over the years. The Hookers began raising money with a fishing tournament the first year and the group has been holding it every year since (with the exception of 2004).
In addition to the school supplies, some individuals also donate cash. This allows the Hookers to purchase supplies and fill in the gaps where there is a shortage of pencils or notebook paper, for example.
Sandra Williams, information specialist, spearheads the effort at Pine Island Elementary.
“Any child that needs any supplies gets what they need,” Williams said. “Parents can let us know before school starts that their child needs supplies and we’ll handle it here at the school or a teacher can send the student over here to get what they need. No student goes without.”