BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE SUPPORTS LOCAL FAMILIES WITH NEEDED SCHOOL ESSENTIALS, BOOKS AND MASKS
Initiative led by Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s Jewish Volunteer Center collected vital supplies and $67,000 for local teachers and students, partnership with Education Foundation
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (August 20, 2020) – Even with most schools going virtual this year and students attending class from home, thousands of children are still in critical need of supplies to support their academic success. Families in Palm Beach County’s western communities received incredible support thanks to Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s Jewish Volunteer Center (JVC) and its network of interfaith and community partners, as well as its partnership with Education Foundation of Palm Beach County. Through the partnership, more than 100 JVC volunteers packed nearly 750 backpacks as well as nearly 1,000 pencil boxes filled with school supplies, books and protective face masks for all students at four Title 1 schools: Belle Glade Elementary, Gove Elementary, Gladeview Elementary, and Pahokee Elementary Schools. Education Foundation and FPL volunteers assembled the additional, for a total of 2,400 backpacks.
Federation and additional donors also raised more than $67,000 to purchase additional school essentials for local teachers to help offset the cost of purchasing necessities for their students. According to Education Foundation, teachers spend an average of $875 annually out of their own pay to purchase items like notebook paper and pencils for students who cannot afford them.
“Particularly during such a stressful season for families, students and teachers, Federation and our network of partners are committed to supporting our children and their educational needs so they can focus on their classwork instead of whether they can access basics such as notepads, rulers and calculators,” shared Melissa Hudson, director of the Jewish Volunteer Center at Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County. “We are a community that supports each other and are incredibly proud how, even during a pandemic, we could mobilize such a large-scale volunteer initiative. This is what community is all about.”
In order to fill 2,400 backpacks, and to ensure everyone’s safety during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Education Foundation and JVC in partnership led a contactless back to school backpack volunteer packing event. The drive-thru event enabled the volunteers to remain in their cars while donations such as masks, backpacks and school supplies were placed in their trunks to be sorted, packed and returned to Red Apple Supplies. Supplies were generously delivered to the four schools by 2 Men and a Truck, who donated their time and resources. Backpacks were distributed at drive by pickup events at schools in early August.
Thousands of books were donated by Federation’s Anne & Sam Klein Literacy program, and 5,000 masks were donated by ICNA Relief: Muslims for Humanity.
All donation and volunteer efforts were made possible thanks to Education Foundation of Palm Beach County as well as community partners Alloy Family Foundation, Carrier, JVC’s Anne & Sam Klein Literacy Program, ICNA Relief: Muslims for Humanity, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Sugar.
For more information about Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s commitment to education, visit jewishpalmbeach.org. For all volunteer opportunities, visit jewishvolunteer.org.
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Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County works to transform, inspire and save lives in the Palm Beaches, Israel and 70 countries around the world.