Annual school supply drive returns to campus for Planning Week

For more than ten years, Elon faculty and staff have donated thousands of needed school supplies to children of Alamance County. James Black ’09, serving in the armed forces in Afghanistan, sparked the beginning of this initiative in 2011 when he helped young children gain access to basic educational materials.

The Elon community pulled together to support his efforts but also recognized the university’s leadership responsibility to “act locally” and helped alleviate some of the needs in Alamance County.  That original drive benefitted both the children abroad and here at home.

The university is excited to continue its commitment to the local community and asks that students, faculty and staff consider donating needed supplies for Alamance Burlington School System (ABSS) students. Every year, the ABSS Student Support Services team (connected to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act) supports over 500 children and families experiencing homelessness, and the need continues to grow in our county.

How to Participate

Students, faculty and staff can participate in one of the following ways:

1. Bring your supplies to the President’s Address on Monday, Aug. 19, in Alumni Gym, the traditional “kick-off” to this drive.
2. Purchase and drop off supplies Aug.16-26 in one of the collection boxes on campus:
   • Moseley Campus Center (near Young Commons entrance)
   • Koury Center (concourse near Young Commons entrance)
   • Belk Library (front entrance near Young Commons)
   • Alamance building (in the rotunda near room 109)
   • Powell building (at front entrance)
   • Mooney building (student lounge area)
   • Lindner Hall (near room 104)
   • Koury Business Center (lobby)
   • Founders Hall (lobby near large stairs)
   • Schar Hall (in Snow Family Atrium)
   • Francis Center (main lobby)
   • Janice Ratliff building (in lobby)
   • Ellington Center (Faculty/Staff Health and Wellness)
   • Johnston Hall (near entrance)
   • Campus Shop (Elon Town Center)
   • Campus Safety and Police (Oaks)
   • Campus Technology Services building (near the entrance)
   • Business Services building (front entrance)
   • Facilities Management building (front office)
3. Purchase school supplies online and have them shipped to the Student Government Association (SGA) at 2979 Campus Box, 100 Campus Drive, Elon, NC 27244. Supplies must be delivered by Aug. 26.
4. Call the SGA office at (336) 278-7109, if you have donations and cannot locate a drop-off box, and an SGA leader will come to pick up the donation.
5. Law School faculty and staff members may contact Stacie Dooley, assistant dean of career and student development. A separate drive is being coordinated for the Greensboro area.

Items to Donate

While all school supplies are welcomed and appreciated, ABSS has shared that new backpacks/book bags and the list of supplies below are their greatest needs:

School Supplies

• New backpacks or book bags (best if they can span ages and levels)
• 3-ring binders (1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3-inch)
• Notebook paper (wide-ruled and college-ruled)
• Composition notebooks
• Pocket folders (with or without prongs)
• Colored pencils
• Crayons
• Washable markers
• Flash drives (4GB or greater)

Personal Care Items

• Shampoo
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Combs
• Brushes
• Body wash
• Deodorant
• Feminine hygiene products
• Hand sanitizer
• Gas cards
• Food cards
• Ziploc bags
• Tissues
• Student-sized masks

For additional questions, contact Jodean Schmiederer, advisor to the Student Government Association, at jschmiederer@elon.edu, or Kelly Harer, involvement chair for the Staff Advisory Council, at kharer@elon.edu.