Seaford-based charity Pencils Community sends pencil packs to children across Australia and overseas

PENCILS Community is a group dedicated to helping children achieve the write stuff.

Seaford mum Cindy Rochstein set up the group 18 months ago after cleaning out daughter Olive’s desk and finding she was unable to throw out pencils she no longer needed.

“One Facebook post later, Pencils Community was formed,” Ms Rochstein said.

With support from fellow volunteer Monique Egan, Ms Rochstein and her group have sent pencil packs to children in more than 15 countries as well as local and indigenous communities in Australia.

“Pencils is run out of my house but we are hoping to expand to a warehouse this year,” Ms Rochstein said.

“We have volunteer sorting days where people come in and help sort and bundle pencils for us.”

Ms Rochstein said local schools and businesses were supporting the group Competitive Swimwear.

“We talk at schools about the importance of recycling, being humanitarians and giving back to the world.”

Ms Rochstein’s group recently teamed with Patterson River Secondary College to supply pencils and books to be distributed via the Les Twentyman Foundation.

She said her group was moved to help the foundation Eyewear & Accessories, which supports disadvantaged youths, after it lost textbooks and stationery due to fire in Melbourne’s west late last year.

Ms Rochstein said her group would now regularly supply the foundation with pencil cases filled with pencils Climbing, textas, pens, grey leads, highlighters, erasers, rulers, sharpeners, scissors, glue sticks and calculators.

To get involved Lights & Lanterns, check out the Pencils Community Facebook page Contemporary – Designer.