Drive for Supplies
The Drive for Supplies program is a collaboration between Learn Shop, Inc. and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). Drive for Supplies was conceived in 1999 by Rev. Kevin and Louise Newcomer, founders of Learn Shop, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Wheaton, MD. The program has expanded each year since its inception. Since 2002, MCPS has collected over 102 tons of reusable school and office supplies.
The program gives students an opportunity to directly support their schools and communities by donating their reusable school supplies and teaches them how they can help preserve their environment by recycling and reducing waste.
Students from across MCPS volunteer to sort the supplies and prepare them for distribution to the public. Through this project they practice the “reduce, reuse, recycle” process while earning student service learning hours towards their graduation requirement.
Summer 2024 Program
Montgomery County Public Schools is excited to host this program again this year. Every school is encouraged to participate and students may RSVP to volunteer. Below is a timeline of events to include all actions and appropriate forms.
School Timeline
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Action |
Dates |
Note |
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School principals should designate a Drive for Supplies coordinator to organize the collection of new and gently used school supplies for donation. Identification of a coordinator indicates the school’s commitment to participate in the program and identifies who to send reusable collection boxes and labels. |
By Friday, June 7, 2024 |
Principals should identify their Drive for Supplies coordinator using this form: |
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Advertise the Drive for Supplies Program |
Now – June 13, 2024 |
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Collect school supplies |
Now – June 13, 2024 |
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Complete the collection form to confirm quantities and prepare boxes for pick up. The filled boxes will be picked up between Monday, June 24 and Friday, July 5, 2024.
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By Friday, June 14, 2024. |
Collection Form: https://tinyurl.com/D4SCollection2024
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| Inform school community of the Drive for Supplies shopping day |
Now – July 19, 2024 |
The Drive for Supplies distribution event will take place at Parkland Middle School on Friday, July 19, 2024 from 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., while supplies last. |
Student Timeline
The Drive for Supplies campaign is looking for student volunteers to support this program by helping to unpack and sort donated supplies and to repackage them for community distribution. This year the repackaged supplies will be distributed to MCPS residents in need.
Middle and High school students will need to commit to 5 days to earn 20-25 SSL hours:
- Monday, July 15 from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM (unpack, sort, and repackage; 5 SSL hours)
- Tuesday, July 16 from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM (unpack, sort, and repackage; 5 SSL hours)
- Wednesday, July 17 from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM (unpack, sort, and repackage; 5 SSL hours)
- Thursday, July 18 from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM (unpack, sort, and repackage IF NEEDED; 5 SSL hours)
- Friday, July 19 from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM (support the "Drive For Supplies Store" WHILE SUPPLIES LAST and repackage supplies IF NEEDED- 5 SSL hours)
***Students are responsible for their own transportation and should bring their own water, water bottle, and lunch each day.
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Action |
Dates |
Note |
Students interested in volunteering for this program AND can commit the 5 days for SSL should complete the interest form.
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Now – July 5, 2024 (while spaces are still available) |
Volunteer RSVP Form |
In 2019, the MCPS Drive for Supplies campaign reached a high of 91 schools participating in the program to donate 14,478 pounds of supplies, marking one of the largest donations in the 20 years of the program.
Include the video link (like it did originally- see screenshot below)
Listen to how the program makes a difference for others: