Information: acfb.org
Going back to school brings excitement and for most kids, brand new school supplies. But, for some children whose parents struggle to put food on the table, it may be a challenge to also receive necessary school supplies. Enter The Atlanta Community Food Bank’s initiative Kids In Need, a year-round free store for educators that was developed on the belief that every child deserves the tools they need for academic achievement.
“The Kids In Need facility is setup much like a retail store and is continuously stocked with school and art supplies for grade levels pre-K through 12,” said Rodney Benn, Atlanta Community Food Bank director of logistics.
At the same time, Cardlytics was doing research on consumer spending behavior during the back to school season, and, “we were excited to learn about the Kids in Need program and impressed with the impact it was having on local kids and teachers,” said Kirk Somers, Cardlytics’ chief legal and privacy officer.
To support the program, Cardlytics held an office-wide competition to collect school supplies for Kids In Need. The employees collected over 2,300 pounds of school supplies, the largest walk-in donation of school supplies received by ACFB this school year. The donation will benefit 1,000 Atlanta area children and more than 40 teachers.
“This donation means that teachers won’t have to spend their own money to get essential items for their classroom and students. The school supplies will go directly to students whose parents can’t always afford the tools needed to help them succeed,” added Benn.
Last school year, 6,085 teachers received 738,809 pounds of school supplies for their students. Kids In Need currently serves elementary, middle and high schools in 17 school systems
Kids In Need always need volunteers in the store to greet teachers, assist them in shopping and sorting and organizing donated items. The community can also collect school supplies by holding a drive for the initiative at any point throughout the school year.
“It’s important for us to be involved in the community that has been so integral to our growth. Our colleagues live and work here, and we want to be part of making their community one in which they and their families can thrive,” said Somers.
In other news: Veolia Water Technologies recently donated $4,500 to the Friends of the Northeast/Spruill Oaks Library in Johns Creek. The donation will help the group fund special programs at the library, including: chess club, Target Family Reading Nights, SAT Prep, teen book club, summer Programs for teens and children, Meet the Author programs, Habitat garden, poetry group, Author-in-Residence, writers workshops and more.
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