The annual Drive for Supplies distribution event will take place at Parkland Middle School on Friday, July 19 from 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., while supplies last.
Families in need are welcome to come and grab new and gently used school supplies. The supplies come from MCPS students and staff who collect and donate them as they clean out lockers, desks and closets at the end of the school year.
The Drive for Supplies program is a collaboration between Learn Shop, Inc. and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). 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 reusable school and office supplies.
The program gives 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.
Students from across MCPS volunteer to sort the supplies and prepare them for distribution to the public. Through this project they practice the “reduce, reuse, recycle” process while earning student service learning hours towards their graduation requirement.
Student Service Learning (SSL) Hours: The Drive for Supplies campaign is looking for student volunteers to support the program by helping to unpack and sort donated supplies and to repackage them for community distribution. Students can earn up to five hours each day.
- Monday, July 15 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 16 from 9:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 17 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Thursday, July 18 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (unpack, sort, and repackage IF NEEDED)
- Friday, July 19 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (support the “Drive For Supplies Store” WHILE SUPPLIES LAST and repackage supplies IF NEEDED- 5 SSL hours)
**Students are responsible for their own transportation and should bring their own water, water bottle, and lunch each day. Visit the event web page for updates and SSL information.
Featured photo courtesy Drive for Supplies