Donors to the Town of Palm Beach United Way’s 2024 school supplies drive gave nearly $15,000 and almost 17,000 individual school supply items to this year’s effort, the charity said.
The 12th annual drive, which benefits needy Palm Beach County children for the 2024-25 school year, was held from July 28 to Aug. 11.
“So many of our supporters have children and grandchildren, and know how important it is for kids to have school supplies,” said Richard Rothschild, the United Way’s board chair, in a prepared statement. “Hundreds of local underprivileged kids depend on our community to help with their educational supplies. We are immensely grateful for the outpouring of support for this year’s drive.”
All told, the school supplies drive collected $14,698, United Way officials said. Also collected were 16,869 individual items including pencils, pens, crayons, markers, notebooks, erasers, backpacks, folders and binders.
Beneficiaries of the supplies included students at Lake Worth Middle School, a Title I school at which the majority of students receive free or reduced-cost breakfast and lunch. Distributions also went to youths served by United Way partner agencies including Project LIFT, Vita Nova and the YWCA of Palm Beach County.
Project LIFT is aimed at students aged 14 to 19 in the Glades. Some 85% of students benefiting from Project LIFT live below the federal poverty level.
“Teens are often overlooked in school supply drives, but just like the little ones, adolescents need school supplies, too,” said Lauren Adrian, Project LIFT’s chief impact officer, in a prepared statement. “The youth we serve are considered at-risk and face many hardships. It is our goal to remove as many barriers as possible to their success.”
Vita Nova, which provides education, housing and employment services for former foster care and other homeless youth, will use its share of the cash donations to buy bus passes. The agency’s 18-to-25-year-old clients need them to finish high school, pursue a GED or start college.
This year’s drive also was the third year it featured a logo contest. The winner was Harlan Lambert, 10, of Palm Beach, who drew a giraffe collecting school supplies.
“I drew this drawing because my friend is visiting from Africa, so I drew a giraffe and we both love reading and school, so I combined our likes and loves to make this drawing,” Lambert wrote in her submission letter.
Harlan’s design will serve as next year’s logo, and she will also receive a $200 Amazon gift card.
The annual school supply drive is conducted in collaboration with Field of Greens, Palm Beach Daily News, and Palm Beach Fire Rescue.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: School supply drive brings $14,698 for needy Palm Beach County students
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