The Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle will be the beneficiaries of the fifth annual Staples for Students national school supply drive, thanks to DoSomething.org, Staples in White Plains and the store’s Westchester shoppers.
“It’s a big deal for the club,” said Gwen Clayton, the director of programs for the Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle. “We get supplies that we wouldn’t ordinarily have room for in our budget. Our education-based programs that promote higher learning, require a lot of pens, paper, notebooks and organization materials. Staples is great for that.”
Teen actress and recording artist Bella Thorne, who plays CeCe on the Disney Channel original series Shake It Up, is helping to promote the Staples for Students campaign, which encourages local kids to assist disadvantaged youth by collecting supplies and dropping them off at Staples at 20 Tarrytown Rd. in White Plains through Sept. 15.
“I’m excited to help motivate fellow teens to make a difference in their communities,” said 14-year-old actress. “There are so many kids in America who return to school without basic school supplies, and I’m thrilled to team up with Staples and DoSomething.org to encourage teens to lend a hand.”
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By visiting www.staplesforstudents.org, Westchester teens can request an action kit with tips and flyers on how to run their own school supply drive. Teens can also text “SUPPLIES” to 38383 to get more information on how to run their drives, and raise a virtual hand by uploading photos and video through social media. For every “hand” raised, Staples will donate $1 (up to $10,000).
“Here at DoSomething.org we don’t just say, we do,” said Nancy Lublin, CEO and “Chief Old Person” at DoSomething.org. “Actions speak louder than words, and we are determined to speak volumes when we team up with Staples for the 5thyear on a campaign that gives young people the power to rock social change, really make a difference among their peers and take action in their very own communities.”
Staples shoppers can also donate $1 at any Staples store to the campaign, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefitting local students. Staples had pledged to donate $125,000 worth of supplies to the program this year.
Clayton says the supplies will help more than 1,000 students, aged 6 to 16, who attend afterschool programs.
“It takes the stress off the staff of having to buy these supplies out of their own pockets,” said Clayton. “We have a lean machine budget, and this allows us to take it up a notch. We’re really grateful; it’s very generous of Staples to do this. These corporate initiatives help us, and it helps the kids. It’s what corporate America should be doing—helping and leveling the playing field for kids who don’t have resources.”
Since 2008, Staples’ campaign has raised more than $2 million for hundreds of thousands of students in need throughout the country.
“We are truly inspired by what teens and our customers across the country can accomplish for the millions of children unable to afford basic school supplies,” said Alison Corcoran, senior vice president of retail marketing at Staples. “With help from celebrities like Bella Thorne and support from DoSomething.org, we can send kids back to school with the tools they need to succeed.”
