Local Businesses Get On the Bus to Support Back to School Drives!
It’s that time again, Back to School! While you are busy getting your children equipped with supplies, clothes and backpacks, several businesses are “getting on the bus” to help children in need with their back to school preparations as well. Fifth Third Bank holds its Third Annual Back to School Supply Drive from August 8 – August 26. Whole Foods market Naples is holding two events, The 5% Community Giving Day on August 15th and a back to school event and supply drive, Celebrating Back 2 School Safely and Naturally, on Saturday, August 20th. Please read on for information on these events and more.
From August 8 – August 26, Fifth Third Bank will accept donations at all of their Collier County locations. The Education Foundation will collect the supplies along with the backpacks generously provided by Fifth Third Bank and will work with Collier County schools to distribute materials to students in need.
“Through this partnership, Fifth Third Bank hopes to equip children — who might otherwise go without these essentials — with all of the tools and materials they need to go confidently in the direction of their dreams,” said David Call, President and CEO, Fifth Third Bank (South Florida).
Suggested items for donations include new uniform clothing, #2 pencils, spiral and composition notebooks, pocket folders, glue bottles and sticks, pink erasers, tissues, and hand sanitizer. Contributions to The Education Foundation Back to School Supply Fund will be gladly accepted. For the nearest Fifth third location, visit www.53.com
In addition, Whole Foods Market Naples is also hosting two events to help our local children. On Monday, August 15th, Whole Foods Market Naples will donate 5% of the day’s net sales to The Education Foundation of Collier County. Customers are encouraged to shop for all-natural and organic products to help raise funds that will support the foundation’s commitment to ensuring a quality education for every child.
“At Whole Foods Market we feel so strongly about our commitment to local communities and the environment that that we’ve made supporting them of our core values. This is just one example of how we give back to the non-profit organizations that help strengthen our community,” says Jessica Varnes, Marketing Team Leader.
In addition, Whole Foods will also hold a back to school event and supply drive, Celebrating Back 2 School Safely and Naturally, on Saturday, August 20th. Examples of items that could be donated include solid color polo shirts, athletic shoes, and lunch boxes as well as pens, pencils and notebooks. For more information, visit www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/naples/
Other local organizations are hosting back to school events as well. Support education and see CenturyLink’s Prism TV in action. Visit the CenturyLink at 6438 Naples Blvd., donate school supplies for students in need, and enter to win a drawing for an iPad. August 12 (11 am – 1 pm) and August 19 (Noon – 2 pm). Visit CenturyLink at www.centurylink.com/?pid=p_76131788
Laces of Love is an organization that provides new shoes for the Back to School season. Donations are accepted at several locations. Go to http://www.lacesoflove.org for more information.
Catholic Charities is hosting its 15th Annual Undy Sunday to provide children with new underwear. For more information, visit www.catholiccharitiesdov.org/News_Articles/undy_sunday
Another annual event is The East Naples Fire Department shoe drive starting in August which accepts new shoes or donations for children at their Headquarters located at 4798 Davis Blvd, Naples, FL 34104. For more information call (239) 774-7111 or visit www.enfd.org/index.html
Finally, If you would like to make a donation to help provide uniform clothing, shoes, socks, underwear or other essentials to children in need, you can make a donation to The Education Foundation’s Back to School Fund. Click here: http://www.educationforcollier.org/donationform/ and enter “Back to School Fund” in the gift designation field.
These are just some of the wonderful organizations that help provide our local children with the supplies they need to start the school year ready to learn. Thank you to all of you who give so generously and “Get On the Bus”.
