As students and teachers prepare to go back to school, INK! is asking the community to help collect the supplies students and teachers need to succeed.
In partnership with the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, The Bailey Group, and the St. Johns County School District (SJCSD), INK! will host a Stuff the Bus collection drive at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre Farmers Market on Saturday, August 17, 2024, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Community members are invited to “STUFF” new school supply donations onto the school bus in the parking lot of the Amphitheatre. Donations will support public school students and teachers at schools across St. Johns County.
In addition, members of the SJCSD transportation department will be on site to promote the benefits and opportunities of being a bus operator. Come take a mini-tour of a SJCSD school bus and learn more about how you can become a school bus operator!
Tools 4 Schools – Countywide Summer Supply Collection
Each summer, INK! and community partners host the annual Tools 4 Schools countywide school supply drive to help teachers and students prepare for the school year. Tools 4 Schools is a community-based classroom supply initiative that provides classroom supplies to teachers and students throughout the academic year, reducing out-of-pocket expenses for educators and providing teachers and students with the tools needed for success in the classroom.
Supplying Students and Teachers with the Tools Needed for Success for over Fifteen Years!
“The Tools 4 Schools program launched 15 years ago to provide public school teachers in St. Johns County access to free school supplies for their students,” said Cathy Newman, INK! Executive Director. “During the 2023 to 2024 school year, INK! staff and volunteers filled and delivered more than 2,200 teacher-requested orders of supplies and educational materials for classrooms in St. Johns County valued in excess of $135,000,” she said.
Since 2012, Tools 4 Schools has operated out of The Bailey Group Resource Depot, a permanent location donated by The Bailey Group which provides storage for the supplies collected during summer collection drives and throughout the year. Throughout the school year, teachers can order supplies online through the INK! website, orders are filled and delivered by INK! staff and volunteers to teachers at their schools.
“The Bailey Group Resource Depot has been instrumental in transforming the Tools 4 Schools initiative from an occasional event into a perennial online shop where teachers can obtain classroom supplies. It is truly inspiring to witness our community rallying to back our dedicated educators and staff,” said Becky Cromwell, Senior Account Manager, The Bailey Group.
“We are incredibly proud to support the Tools 4 Schools donation drive through the Stuff the Bus event at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre Farmers Market on August 17,” said Dianya Markovits, the St. Augustine Amphitheatre’s Public Relations Director. “This initiative not only highlights the importance of community involvement but also directly impacts the educational experiences of students and teachers in St. Johns County. We look forward to joining our community members in this critical effort.”
Requested Supplies for the 2024-2025 School Year:
- New youth and adult backpacks
- Number 2 Pencils
- Pens – Black, Blue, and/or Red
- Crayola Markers – Classic Thick, Classic Thin, and/or Classic Thick Washable
- Crayola Colored Pencils and/or Crayons
- Mechanical Pencils
- One-subject Spiral Notebooks – College Ruled and Wide Ruled
- Three-ring Binders – 1 ½ inch and 2 inch
- Glue sticksHighlighters
- Index Cards
- Pocket Folders
- Children’s Safety Scissors
- Pencil boxes and pouches
How You Can Help:
- Come “Stuff the Bus” on Saturday, August 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Volunteers will greet you at The Amphitheatre Farmers Market, help unload your vehicle, and fill the bus. We look forward to meeting you and thanking you for donating new school supplies.
- Shop INK!’s Amazon Wish List HERE. Your donation will ship directly to INK!’s Tools 4 Schools storage facility.
- Donate to INK! HERE. We’ll purchase the supplies our teachers and students need for a successful school year.
Tools 4 Schools Stuff the Bus Details:
Venue: St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340 A1A South St. Augustine, FL 32080
Date: Saturday, August 17, 2024
Time: 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
For more event info visit: https://www.theamp.com/events/detail/stuff-the-bus or https://www.facebook.com/events/1021645392987125/
