Statewide school supply drive kicks off

A campaign to get school supplies in the hands of students and teachers is currently underway in North Carolina.

The annual Governor’s School Supply Drive will run through mid-August. According to a press release from Governor Roy Cooper’s office, teachers across the state spend around $500 of their own money on classroom supplies yearly.

Items needed include pens, pencils, paper, dry-erase markers, sanitizing wipes, and tissues, among others.

Donation bins will be set up at State Employees’ Credit Union branches across North Carolina. People are also encouraged to gather supplies at their workplaces. 

After the drive wraps up on August 18, volunteers from Communities in Schools of North Carolina — a nonprofit that connects students with various resources — will help deliver the supplies to public schools.

In the press release, Gov. Cooper commented on the continued legislative fights for teacher pay and education overall, and said that these donations not only support teachers, but give them the “respect they deserve.”