ROCKVILLE, MD – Nearly 12,000 pounds of school supplies were collected for needy students and families during the annual Montgomery County Public Schools “Drive for Supplies" event. The results of this year’s “Drive for Supplies” were announced today at a press conference featuring Mr. Christopher Barclay, president of the Board of Education; Dr. Joshua P. Starr, superintendent of Schools; and Mr. Alan Xie, student member of the Board of Education.

“We have many students in Montgomery County who need these supplies because the recession has taken quite a toll on our families. This supply drive is critical to helping hundreds of our students get off on the right foot this school year with the supplies they need to be ready to learn,” said Board of Education President Barclay.

This year, 57 schools, along with several Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) offices, participated in collecting supplies that include paper, books, notebooks, pens, pencils and more. Students earned Student Service Learning (SSL) hours over the summer by sorting, boxing and weighing the donated supplies.

“This is an important tradition in Montgomery County that has helped thousands of children over the last 12 years get what they need to start the school year,” said Superintendent Starr. “We appreciate the support of our partners and all of the donations from our students and staff. Next year, I hope that we can increase the donations to serve even more families."

Drive for Supplies, now in its 12th year, is a collaboration between Learn Shop, Inc., and MCPS. The program not only teaches students the importance of recycling and reducing landfill waste, but also that they can have a direct impact on communities by donating their reusable school supplies to local, national, and international schools and organizations.

The project has grown steadily since it began in MCPS in 2000. In 2002, Drive for Supplies collected 5,320 pounds of reusable school supplies and utilized 14 volunteers to help sort. This year, more than 130 student helpers volunteered hundreds of hours to sort the almost 12,000 pounds of donations.

Drive for Supplies was formed in 1999 by Kevin and Louise Newcomer, founders of Learn Shop, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Wheaton, Maryland.

MCPS schools, individual families and nonprofit agencies may pick up free supplies for students who need them at the Drive for Supplies celebration today, Monday July 25, at Richard Montgomery High School, following the press conference at 10 a.m.