Helping Over 148,000 Students...
Regardless of the school format this year, one truth remains- students need our support now more than ever. Since 2007, we have rallied community around our families through the annual School Supply Drive, helping over 14,800 students return to school fully prepared. With our community's support, this has translated into over $900,000 in school supplies distributed to our local elementary and middle grades students throughout the school year.
Delivering Year-Round Support...
As schools went virtual in light of the Coronavirus pandemic, systems were created to help address students needs-- from Internet access and online learning platforms to daily meal delivery, hygiene items, school supplies, and more. Shannon Boyd, Youth in Transition Coordinator for Buncombe County Schools, works with our homeless and foster care students throughout the county. She's supported over 920 families without transportation in receiving care packages from the schools.
A School Resource Center on Wheels
"We have been delivering daily nutrition meals along with additional food supplies from the BCS Family Resource Center and other needs that our school social workers and United Way Resource Coordinators were helping to determine, including school supplies of notebooks and pencils as well as hygiene items like toothpaste and diapers for younger siblings." Those items are typically accessed by students and families throughout the school year in the school resource center.
Coming Together as a Community...
"We really want to focus on keeping the closet stocked and continuing to show up for our students and families through the coming school year," she said. "There's a lot of worry and concern and for good reason, but just like what has happened these past few months, I know that we will step up as a community and come together to make sure everyone is taken care of."
