Supplying Success in School

Community businesses donate school supplies to Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County

September 24, 2007, McKinney, Texas - Collin County businesses earned an A+ at the beginning of the school year by donating car loads of school supplies to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County (BGCCC)– literally, "car loads" of school supplies!

Donors included Collin County Government Offices; McKinney law firm, Abernathy, Roeder, Boyd & Joplin; United Health Care in Plano; EDS; Texas Instruments in McKinney; David Weekly Homes; American Legion Riders; and Frisco Bible Church.

"Thanks to the overwhelming support from these businesses to our annual supply drive, school supplies were distributed to hundreds of kids throughout our three cities making sure every BGCCC child had what they needed to start school," Angie Toles, BGCCC community outreach coordinator, said.

Donors did such a great job collecting supplies, BGCCC branches in McKinney, Plano, and Frisco will also be able to replenish these supplies to club members in January, when the need is great, but the supply is small.

"Replenishing supplies mid-year is a huge help to our kids, their parents, and even their teachers," Toles added. "Now, our kids are assured brand new supplies when they return after the holidays to finish out the year."

Erica Johnson of the Collin County Government Offices in McKinney says county offices in McKinney, Frisco, and Plano put up flyers in each of the buildings and sent out countywide emails asking people to drop of donations at collection sites nearest to them. The effort certainly paid off, as just over 1,400 supplies were collected from the county offices alone.

"We received literally car loads of supplies from each of the business that contributed to the supply drive," Christina Alford, chief executive officer, said. "Equipping our kids with the supplies they need absolutely raises their confidence and self esteem, ultimately helping them achieve success throughout the school year."

David Weekly Homes in Plano contributed boxes of school supplies to The Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County during the Club's annual school supply drive. BGCCC Plano Branch Director, Karen Johnson, accepts the supplies along with Plano branch club members Amber Tew, Alexis Hatcher, Bryanna Standberry, Marissa Evans (front) and Maurica Gardener (back). Representing the David Weekly are (back row) Ashley Williams, Amy Minnix, Ann Mears, and Terree Stone.

Jorge Ayala from the McKinney branch shows his excitement and amazement for all the new school supplies donated by the Collin County Government Offices. Other business across Collin County also contributed large amounts of supplies helping the Club send all its kids to school with the supplies they needed, plus extras to help finish out the year in the Spring.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County McKinney branch children (left to right) Jorge Ayala, Chahendra Dues, David Chavira, Saquean Thornton, and Sabrina Murphy pick-up new school supplies donated to them by the Collin County Government Offices in McKinney, Plano, and Frisco. Also pictured are McKinney branch director, Diana Dues; Collin County employees from the McKinney office, Heather Conrad and Erica Johnson, BGCCC community outreach coordinator, Angie Toles, and County Commissioner, Phyllis Cole, also from the McKinney office.