Supply drive raises $17,000
In August, school hallways were stacked with supplies for the upcoming school year. Assistance came for families in need in the form of neighbors helping neighbors through The Giving Tree school supply drive.
by Lisa Crockett with photo by Terri Wiebold
A group of alumni from Leadership Douglas County – a coalition of civic and business leaders – organized a summertime school supply drive called the “Giving Tree, Douglas County United for Students.” The chairperson of the effort, Susan Squyer, worked with the Douglas County Educational Foundation to gather supplies and provide them to students and schools with the greatest need.
A faltering economy has made it difficult for some parents to provide the necessary basics for success in school, things like pencils, paper, glue and scissors. Donations of more than $17,200 were collected at local grocery stores and libraries, given by business groups and individual donors, including some who solicited help from friends and neighbors.
“A complete stranger that read our story in the press, took it upon herself to reach out to contacts she had through her links to education, solicited donations from suppliers all around the country and paid to have them shipped to our drive,” said Squyer. “Two hundred fifty book bags and 600 calculators were just a few items she sourced which are already in the hands of students this year.”
Donations to the Douglas County Educational Foundation’s “Fill the Gap” program are still being accepted and students in need are still eligible to receive necessary supplies. For more information, visit, schools.dcsdk12.org/education/dept/, and click on “Fill the Gap.”
