RALEIGH, N.C. — WakeEd Partnership (WakeEd), a business-backed nonprofit organization that supports teachers and students in Wake County Public Schools, collected more than 400,000 school supply items as part of its “Back to School with Tools4Schools” community school supply drive that officially wrapped up this week. The supply drive was launched July 9 before the new school year started to help stock the shelves at Tools4Schools, WakeEd’s free classroom supply store for Wake County Public Schools teachers.
“This community has come together yet again in a significant way to support the educators and students of Wake County Public Schools,” stated Keith Poston, President of WakeEd Partnership. “These donated supplies are already making their way into classrooms throughout Wake County, helping to alleviate the financial strain on our incredible teachers who report spending from $900 to $1,300 annually from their own pockets to provide the necessary supplies for their students.”
Since Tools4Schools reopened for the new school year on August 6, 1,061 teachers have shopped and left with $126,117.66 in new classroom supplies at no cost, an average of $119 per shop for each educator. Wake County Public Schools teachers receive 100 points each quarter to “shop” at Tools4Schools.
“The official Tools4Schools summer school supply drive may have ended, but the needs are ongoing and Tools4Schools operates all year long for our teachers,” added Poston. “We need support all year to keep the shelves stocked for the store operating.”
In addition to more than 400,000 school supply items, WakeEd raised at least $70,000 in monetary donations. That total includes a $20,000 challenge match from the 4 Others Foundation. This fundraising drive follows a successful 2023-2024 fiscal year, during when community members, businesses and foundations collectively gave more than $170,000 in monetary donations to Tools4Schools. As school supplies and donations continue to come in, WakeEd expects the final supply drive totals to be even higher.
Besides the official Tools4Schools supply drop-off sites across the county, more than 100 companies and organizations hosted their own supply drives and delivered those items to Tools4Schools. That is more than double the 40-hosted supply drives last year.
Top 2024 Supply Drive Partners
- Staples
- Office Depot
- YMCA of the Triangle
- UNC Health
- WRAL-TV
- Triangle Family Dentistry
- Buffaloe Lanes Cary
- I Heart Radio Group
- Carolina Hurricanes
- North Carolina FC/North Carolina Courage
- Community Workforce Solutions
- Frankel Staffing Partners
- Hope Refugee Partners
- WakeMed
- Ameriprise Financial Services
- Massage Envy
- Results Physiotherapy
- Carolina Orthodontics & Children’s Dentistry
- Trinity Partners
- Grubb Ventures
- Spectrum Companies
- Zebulon Chamber of Commerce/Zebulon Young Professionals
- Wake County Bar Association
- Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple
- Victra
Top Tool4Schools 2023-2024 Year + 2024 Supply Drive Donors
- 4 Others Foundation
- Aetna
- Amgen Foundation
- Arthur Ashley Williams Foundation
- Mary Mac and Tom Bradshaw
- Bright Ideas Realty
- Elizabeth Gant
- Dr. and Mrs. Gregory Gojanovich
- Benjamin Goldstein
- Goodberry’s Creamery, Inc.
- LifeWork Collaborative Foundation
- Myco Medical Supplies Inc
- Publix Super Market Charities
- UNC Health
- Richard and Cindy Urquhart
- W. Trent Ragland, Jr. Foundation
- Wake Electric
- Wake County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #41
- Wake County Public School System
How can you support Tools4Schools All Year?
- Make a cash donation. All gifts are tax-deductible. Click here to donate using a debit or credit card. Checks can be mailed to WakeEd Partnership at 1816 Capital Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27604 with Tools4Schools on the memo line.
- Donate NEW school supplies. WakeEd accepts donations of new classroom supplies year-round to fill the shelves at Tools4Schools. A list of the most popular items requested by teachers can be found here. Donations can be dropped off year-round at Tools4Schools. Please coordinate large deliveries with the WakeEd team at Tools4Schools@wakeed.org.
- SHOP our Amazon Wish List. Shop the Amazon Wishlist to buy items most-requested by teachers and ship to the shelves at Tools4Schools. Click here and select the Tools4Schools address at checkout and ship the supplies directly to Tools4Schools.
- Donate gently used office supplies. In addition to new classroom supplies, WakeEd Partnership takes donations of gently used items for classrooms from companies, organizations, and individuals. Most requested used items include staplers and tape dispensers.
- Host a supply drive. If your business or organization is interested in hosting a supply drive, click here to register your Tools4Schools classroom supply drive and click here to download our classroom supply drive kit and start collecting! If you have any questions, email Tools4Schools@wakeed.org.
- Volunteer at Tools4Schools. WakeEd Partnership is seeking volunteers to help stock shelves, interact with educators, inventory supplies, package, and sort supplies. If your family, club, or organization is interested in volunteering, click here to sign up via Activate Good.
For information about additional giving opportunities, including corporate sponsorships, contact WakeEd’s fundraising team at development@wakeed.org.
About WakeEd Partnership
WakeEd Partnership (WakeEd) is a leading independent nonprofit backed by business and community leaders to support the teachers, students, and families of Wake County Public Schools. Since 1983, WakeEd has been committed to improving public education and advocating for excellent educational opportunities for all students. For more information, please visit www.wakeed.org.
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