A Stratford business owner got a head start on collecting school supplies for kids this fall.

Howard Aspinwall, of Mellow Monkey, says small business owners are working in partnership with the Stratford Board of Education.

He says a record 900 families have signed up to receive school supplies this year.

"Well, Mellow Monkey has a long history of being involved in the community, and our customers also are very much involved in helping in the community. So it's great when we come together and just be able to do something like this," Aspinwall said on Sunday. "I mean, 900 students with book bags is a lot of students, but we think that together with our customers, we're going to be able to do it."

School supplies can be dropped off at Mellow Monkey in Stratford until July 28.

For more information, visit the Mellow Monkey website.