Local businesses provide school supplies
Community members were encouraged to bring donations to school buses parked in the Shops at South Town as part of a supply drive for students. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
By Julie Slama | [email protected]
Canyons Education Foundation Officer Denise Haycock is grateful for the help Canyons School District students will receive from this year's Tools for Schools.
"It was a fun collaborative effort, where we worked together to collect and share donations and money to help every kid receive what they need," she said.
The donations included backpacks, school supplies, clothing items including socks, coats, shoes and undergarments, and food for school pantries.
All the contributions were donated in early August during the second annual Tools for Schools drive, which benefitted students in eight school districts statewide. Other area districts include Granite, Jordan, Salt Lake and Murray.
During the three-day drive, Z104 KSOP radio personalities Dave and Deb lived on school buses at the Shops at South Town to broadcast the need. Salt Lake Board of Realtors, district volunteers and others accepted and organized donations.
"This was an easier way for our community to be able to give items directly to the kids. Each school district identified what they needed, and then we divided those up as to who needed which items," she said. "We didn't have a goal as far as numbers of items or donations; our goal was to help as many students as we could."
Canyons School District was looking for ways to help students and families who have been identified as having a need as well as those who may be transitioned at the Road Home Overflow Family Shelter in Midvale.
"We have a list on our Facebook page and website so people can make donations, even if it is just to help out a child or two," Haycock said. "We are so appreciative to any contribution we receive from our community and are grateful to the Board of Realtors and others who have come out to support and organize donations and to Z104, who are illustrating some of the hardships and going without things that some students may be experiencing, as well as broadcasting to their listeners the need that is out there."
The idea to hold a collaborative drive came from Jackie McKay, on-air promotions director for Z104.
"It's a way we can help our community as there is so many kids in need," she said. "We've had people dropping off notebooks, backpacks, cash donations, food and other items we listed on a website. With some of the cash donations, we've gone out to buy more needed items like socks and underwear and flash drives so students can save their work if they don't have computers at home. We have a great group of listeners who love to support the community and are helping to stuff backpacks full for all the students in need."
In addition to Tools for Schools, Canyons employees held their Gathering for Good campaign, allowing school employees to donate to students. Both Alta View Hospital and RC Willey have made donations of school supplies and backpacks, and Grifols Worldwide is holding an in-house supply drive for Canyons school children.