Thank you to everyone who helped make the 2019 Drive for Supplies program a huge success! Ninety-one schools participated to support numerous families and community organizations that serve children in need. This year, students collected 14,478 pounds of supplies! Over the past 20 years, the annual program has helped save over 102 tons of material from the landfills. Hundreds of students, families and community members received free, donated school supplies at the 20th annual Drive for Supplies. The Drive for Supplies program is a collaboration between Learn Shop, Inc. and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). The program give students an opportunity to directly support their schools and communities by donating their reusable school supplies and teaches them how they can help preserve their environment by recycling and reducing waste.
Drive for Supplies was conceived in 1999 by Rev. Kevin and Louise Newcomer, founders of Learn Shop, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Wheaton, MD. The program has expanded each year since its inception. Since 2002, MCPS has collected over 102 tons of school supplies. This year, more than 14,478 pounds of reuseable school and office supplies were collected.
Listen to how the program makes a difference for others:
Ninety-one MCPS schools, along with several MCPS offices, and local businesses, participated in the program. At the conclusion of the celebration ceremony, the collected supplies were distributed to students, families, schools and nonprofit agencies that support students in need or provide services and programs to students.
Special thanks to administration and staff at Argyle Middle School for hosting this event and to the Drive for Supplies Corps student volunteers who spent several days this summer sorting and packing the donated supplies!
The School Energy and Recycling Team presented recognition awards to:
Thurgood Marshall Elementary School who collected 527.4 pounds of school supplies
Hallie Wells Middle School who collected 199.1 pounds of school supplies
Bethesda Chevy Chase High School who collected 367.2 pounds of school supplies