MIAMI VALLEY — News Center 7 recently concluded its fifth annual 7 Circle of Kindness School Supply Drive, collecting donations to support local teachers and students.
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The supplies and monetary donations go directly to Crayons to Classrooms, which is an organization that serves students at more than 130 schools throughout the Miami Valley.
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The drive helps stock classrooms with essential items including notebooks, pencils, crayons and backpacks for the upcoming school year.
Community members visited News Center 7 tents at Walmart locations in Sugarcreek Township and Butler Township to contribute.
Randy, a resident of Centerville, made a special trip to donate after seeing a preview of the event on television.
“It is a community of giving and they care about people that live here and would give the shirt off their back and we love being part of that community,” Randy said.
The 7 Circle of Kindness Drive received support from community sponsors, including Morris Home Furniture and Ashley.
Kevin Shrock, associate vice president of operations for Morris Home Furniture and Ashley, highlighted the importance of providing children with new supplies for the school year.
“When I was a kid and getting those new school supplies that every kid should have, that feeling and it’s something special,” Shrock said. “I have a 9-year-old daughter who feels that same special way, that there’s children that don’t have that, and this is just one way we do that.”
Some donors, including Kettering resident Marissa, contributed because their own families had previously relied on such assistance.
Marissa stopped by a donation site with her children to drop off backpacks for students in need.
“There was a time we couldn’t afford school supplies, and what they needed, we relied on programs like this, so when we are in a much better position now, we like to give back,” Marissa said.
Collection bins at the donation sites were filled with items such as notebooks, crayons and scissors.
Organizers said they are confident that this year’s collection will exceed the $23,000 in supplies gathered during the last year’s drive.
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