Some grateful University of Missouri students on Thursday picked up free school supplies from not-for-profit MU student organization Helping Hands at its table in front of the MU Student Center.

The organization was founded by MU biological sciences junior Harjeev Singh, but this is its first distribution of school supplies and textbooks.

Students are moving in this week, preparing for the start of the fall semester on Monday.

The supplies included notebooks, pens, pencils, highlighters, desk lamps, safety goggles and other items, Singh said.

The organization also distributes donated textbooks used in courses at MU, he said.

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Some of the supplies were donated by the Mizzou Store. They have minor defects that otherwise would cause them to be discarded, Singh said.

"A lot of students express their concerns about the cost of course materials and especially textbooks," Singh said. "This allows them to save money and allow them to spend money on other things, like food."

Singh cited an MU Libraries survey finding that 13% of students considered leaving the university because of the cost of course materials.

The organization also connects students with volunteer opportunities including Room at the Inn and Rainbow House.

Receiving a package of supplies was Lauren Schneider, 21, a senior nursing student from Columbia. She graduated from Hickman High School in 2019.

Her package included binders, folders and notebooks, she said.

"Especially with the cost of everything going up, this helps a lot," Schneider said.

The organization's website didn't list any of the textbooks she would use in her courses, she said.

Another recipient on Thursday was Gabriela Ionita, 27, a biological sciences student  from Romania.

"It will help me in my classes," Ionita said. "I need to have notebooks."

It saves her money, too, she said.

"When you can save something, it's better to do that," she said.

She said most of her textbooks are online, so she doesn't have to buy them.

Any supplies left over that she doesn't need, she plans to give back, she said.

"I want to donate them," she said.

Helping Singh on Thursday was MU engineering student Dillon Campbell, of Ballwin, and Singh's parents, Jottie and Harbeer Singh.

Helping Hands will be set up in front of the Student Center again Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The organization has more than 200 textbooks and enough supplies to put together 300 packages, Singh said.

The supplies will be available to MU students throughout the school year, Singh said.

Students can request supplies and textbooks in advance at the organization's website, muhelpinghands.org.

Roger McKinney is the education reporter for the Tribune. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719.