FARGO — Essentia Health announced a major donation on Thursday, Nov. 20, to help fill a mid-year gap in school supply access for local students.

An additional 23,000 school supply items will be distributed to children attending schools in Fargo, West Fargo and Moorhead.

The donation comes on top of the United Way of Cass Clay’s annual school supply drive, which takes place each summer. The goal is to give students peace of mind if they arrive in the area in the middle of the school year.

“We want them to be able to focus on those really important things and not worried about, 'Will I have pencils or crayons or a backpack to be successful?’” said Stefanie Gefroh, president of Essentia Health West Market.

Last summer’s school supply drive filled 6,500 backpacks, which were distributed to

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