It started before 6 a.m.

Children and parents lined up from the door of the Limestone County Department of Human Resources to the curb of Market Street to receive school supplies, even though the doors didn’t open until 8 a.m.

Inside the building, volunteers from churches, youth groups and civic clubs scurried around piles of notebooks, crayons, folders, pencils and the like, gathering them into paper sacks.

All this effort so a Limestone County child can go to school with the tools to learn.

“We think it’s important for the children to be able to take their supplies with them to school when they go,” said DHR community resource specialist Jennifer White.

One of those children is Clements High School freshman Summer VanWinkle. Her mother, Dana King, has taken the supplies on and off throughout VanWinkle’s nine years at school.

“It’s been a blessing,” she said. “This year it means a lot.”

King is currently living in a camper after an EF3 tornado knocked her mobile home off its foundation near Poplar Creek Road. Her daughter has had to stay at King’s mother’s home until the residence can be replaced.

“I’ve been a single mom her whole life,” King said. “I’m hoping she has a bedroom before school starts.”

When times are tough, choices have to be made, and sometimes that means a child either gets new school clothes or new supplies and there isn’t money left for other needs. King said in the years she bought VanWinkle’s supplies, she could easily spend about $200 or more in one shopping trip.

Having this resource during harder years takes a financial burden off her mind, King said.

“They always give you exactly what you need. Not having to (purchase supplies) — that’s money I can put toward clothes.“

King wiped tears from her eyes as she thanked the community that didn’t think twice about giving their money and time or donating supplies so her daughter can be ready for school.

“It’s a good thing that they do,” she said. “My hat goes off to them.”

White said donations would continue to come in even after the bell rings for the first time next month. There will even be families who will not receive supplies until then.

“We won’t know until it’s over with, how many bags we did,” she said.

No state money is involved in the annual supply drive, White sad. The program runs through donations and volunteer hours alone. Even corporations like Wal-Mart contact White to participate.

“The community is very supportive,” she said.

This is the first year DHR has held the supply drive before Alabama’s annual tax-free weekend, White said.

Consumers can take advantage of the sales tax holiday on all school supplies and clothing starting Friday.