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The Drive for Supplies program serves two functions. First, it collects unneeded, but still usable school supplies (pens, pencils, crayons, note paper, glue, rulers, notebooks, etc.) that will be donated to disadvantaged children. Second, along with promoting community action, the Drive for Supplies project saves MCPS money by reducing disposal costs while also reducing waste in our community landfills.
Drive for Supplies is a program to encourage students
to donate used, but usable school supplies at the end
of the school year when they clean out their lockers,
bookbags, and desks. At the same time, it is an opportunity
to educate students about recycling.
The Drive for Supplies program serves two functions.
First, it collects used but still usable school supplies
(pens, pencils, crayons, note paper, glue, rulers, notebooks,
etc.) that will be donated to disadvantaged children.
Second, along with promoting community action, the Drive
for Supplies project saves Montgomery County Public
Schools (MCPS) money by reducing disposal costs while
also reducing waste in our community landfills.
Dr. Jerry D. Weast, superintendent of schools, has endorsed
the development of the Drive for Supplies program for
all MCPS schools
Drive for Supplies was conceived
in 1999 by Kevin and Louise Newcomer, founders of Learn
Shop, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Wheaton,
Maryland. Each year since its inception, the program
has been expanded. In 2001, with a renewed emphasis
on recycling, many of the elementary, middle, and high
schools in Montgomery County participated in,collecting
an estimated $60,000 worth of supplies. In 2000, with
the full support of Superintendent Dr. Weast, the program,
supported mainly by middle schools, collected $75,000
in supplies. In the Spring of 2001, even more supplies
were collected. In 2002, the Student Affairs Office
began coordinating the MCPS supply drive and began collecting
data by weight. See the individual web pages by date
to look at data and pictures.
(Learn Shop, Inc. is a Montgomery
County based United Way organization dedicated to improving
economically disadvantaged school communities throughout
the BaltimoreWashington metropolitan area. Drive for
Supplies is a Learn Shop,
Inc. year-round program. You may contact Learn Shop
directly at info@learnshop.org or Kevin_Newcomer@yahoo.com.
For information about the end of the school year collaboration
with MCPS, email the Student Affairs Office at Karen_L_Crawford@mcpsmd.org.
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The "Clean
Your Desk" campaign for Nicaraguan school kids
has curriculum lesson plans that are available on their
web site. Drive for Supplies will again donate to this
organization to help the children in the rural schools
of Nicaragua.
Drive for Supplies
does not collect clothing. Schools in Montgomery County
that wish to collect and donate clothing may do so at the Interfaith Clothing Center (ICC), in Rockville (751 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD 20851). UpCounty schools, there are donation bins located at 620 E. Diamond Ave in Gaithersburg and 19951 Father Hurley Blvd. in Germantown. Please contact the Rockville Center at 301-424-3796 with any questions.
The ICC is seeking volunteers to sort, organize and display clothing, accept donations and assist clients. Short-term and long-term volunteers, groups or individuals, hourly or daily commitments are welcomed and appreciated. Students may receive community service credit. Go to the ICC web site for more information (http://www.iworksmc.org/p-interfaith-clothing-centers.html#VolunteeratRockville)
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