Mountains of Supplies!

This photo should give you some sense of the enormous influx of supplies that we've picked up from the various 8 schools in Naperville, 2 in Lockport and 13 in Elmhurst.  The garage is literally flooded with 200 boxes of supplies!!

We still have at least 12 more schools to collect supplies from over the next week.

In all the years we've been collecting supplies I have never, ever seen so many binders, colored markers (literally thousands of them) and scissors!!

Thanks, Dick

On to Elmhurst!

As Memorial Day has come and gone, much remains to be done to pick up school supplies at the end of the school year.  Today we are going to all of the schools in the Elmhurst district.  I have a 16' truck and I am bound to fill it up to the most part.

Our pick ups are part of the 'Great Donation Day' which is organized by Barb Lonergan.  Not only are school donating supplies to our charity but plenty of other products are recycled throughout the day.  People can drop off used tools, television sets, printers, golf clubs and the much more.  The whole idea is for the community to pitch in and donate.  Not only are we helping others but the donations keep things out of landfills.

Just think of the good we can do if communities followed such a great tradition as the 'Great Donation Day!'
Elmhurst always does their part to aid Schools Count.  Funny how the Elmhurst supply drive has grown from the days of one single York HS student getting a couple of schools to donate supplies to us.

Many thanks!
Dick

In Full Collecting Mode

Heading out to Naperville to pick up supplies from some of the feeder schools.  This is the fourth consecutive year that these schools have donated student supplies to our cause.  These schools have been incredibly faithful in term of helping schools in New Orleans, Joplin, MO and Chicago.

Steeple Run, Naperville Central H.S., Prairie Elementary and Kingsley Elementary will be visited today.

What I find amazing about these schools is the fact that they donate huge amounts of supplies, are well organized and they are so easy to deal with.  I have almost 40 schools to get to over the next two weeks and each of these schools - busy as they are at the end of the year - always work around MY schedule.  Amazing!!!

I will head back out to Naperville next Wednesday and pick up additional resources.  This gives you some sense that the district and community totally support our work!

Thank you,
Dick

Supplies are Rolling In

I made my way to Lockport East High School on Monday and Lockport Central on Tuesday and found a treasure trove of school supplies.  Thanks to Sarah Steinke at East and Sarah Smith at Central, we came up with a combined 50 BOXES of supplies!!

As I start counting, boxing and storing these I have found that there is a huge mass of great supplies.  Among the donation are over 375 great binders and 420 spirals/notebooks.  So far I have counted over 300 folders and there many more to be counted.

Plenty of pencils, markers, locker supplies and loose leaf paper are still to be cataloged!

Just imagine if a majority of the suburban school students took part in this program.  Can you imagine how many children, who go without these basic supplies, would be helped by acquiring these free supplies?  It would be incredible.

Okay, it's off to the garage!!

Dick

Bits and Pieces

As the school year winds down in the various parts of Illinois and other parts of the country where Schools Count Corp is assisting I thought it appropriate to say a few words.

Our donors and volunteers have done our very best to effect positive change in the various schools.  They have done much to run charity events, raise funds, collect coats and music instruments, load trucks, collect school supplies, contribute money and to donate their time.  I am blessed to have such wonderful people be part of our effort to assist those in need.

I have had the great pleasure of chatting with principals, visiting schools, seeing the vibrant students, and otherwise keeping up with the progress of various issues affecting education.   In most cases what I witness is an eagerness, on the part of teachers, to teach and the same effort, put forth by students, to learn. 

Sadly, I have seen the closing of good schools, the firing of principals who can lead any school and am confronted with bureaucratic institutional decisions that fly in the face of common sense and decency.  Throughout the country, in too many impoverished areas, there is a real move to privatize public education and that is a horrifying and sad truth.

But in the classrooms we serve I see nothing but positive growth.  It is so fulfilling to work with the many people who realize that if children receive a proper education and are pointed in the right direction then there chances for success grow.  It may be the one event that sustains this charity and my individual commitment to see to it that ALL children are not left behind.

The struggles continues but the road ahead is bright.

Thanks,
Dick

A Note from New Orleans

Below is a note I received from Cheryllyn Branche the Principal of Banneker Elementary in New Orleans.  It conveys her sentiments about the gratitude felt towards our charity.  I thought you would find it both heartfelt and moving.

Dear Friend,

I have thought about a response everyday since you wrote to tell us of your continued work and the decision you were going to have to make, at some point. For six years, you and your team have helped us to "hold it together" when it seemed there was nowhere to turn. You let us know there are "angels in our midst", even though our midst expanded to Chicago.

Remember, you guys gave us wings, when we didn't even know we could fly. Now you have to do the same closer to home and we have to use our wings. In the same way you supported our children and this city, we have to figure out how we can do that for others. We are aware of the horrific devastation experienced by our neighbors to the north and I pray your incredible work brings them an eternal spring. Our hats are off to you and all of the team.

As we wind down this school year and reflect on the gifts only God could give, we can only count the blessings of a tenacious group of committed folks who resolved to bring hope to us over a six year period, not just uniforms and supplies. We may not get any more tangible gifts but, hope and friendship remain, never to be taken away.

Tell Dawn and the team, we love you guys and could never thank you enough. Continue to spread your joy, your hope and your gifts. The Banneker Family knows the joy and has experienced the benefit of your giving and we are eternally grateful.



With Love and Admiration to all of you,
Cheryllyn
Cheryllyn M. Branche, Principal
Banneker Elementary and Middle School
421 Burdette Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70118
sch: 504.373.6203

'Go Green'

As the school year winds down, many suburban schools are participating in our 'Go Green' recycling of perfectly good school supplies that will be part of our initiative to help some 40 CPS and Chicago area children obtain supplies for the start of the year in August.

Here's a list of those schools who have committed to helping in the next couple of weeks.  The students, clubs and advisors deserve a good deal of credit for helping us while keeping the materials out of landfills!

In Naperville the following schools are assisting us; Steeple Run Elementary, Kingsley Elementary, Prairie Elementary, Elmwood Elementary, Highlands Elementary, Ranchview Elementary, Ellsworth Elementary and Naperville Central High School.

In the Darien, Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills area the following schools are collecting; Clarendon Hills Middle School, Prospect Elementary, Hinsdale Central H.S., Maercker Elementary, Westview Hills Jr. High, Eisenhower Jr. High, Lace Elementary, Lakeview Elementary, and Delay Elementary.

Both Lockport Central H.S. and Lockport East H.S. are part of collection efforts.

Elmhurst District #205 is help in a big way.  Here are ALL 13 schools aiding our collection efforts.  They include; York HS, Bryan Middle School, Churchville Middle School, and Sandbury Middle School.  The following 9 elementary schools are also assisting us and include; Edison, Emerson, Field, Fischer, Hawthorne, Jackson, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Madison.

Thanks to all of you!
Dick