Besides asking how to make cash donations, people often ask how they can donate school/office supplies.  With the flow of inventory in and out of OKE, it’s sometimes hard to quickly list our current needs.  At the same time, we always have a need for specific core items throughout the school year.

We recently talked with our amazing colleagues at the Teachers’ Supply Closet in South Carolina.  They routinely collect teacher experience surveys on the top items students need and the quantities used by a student throughout the  school year.  With their help we put together a listing of the core school supplies we need on an ongoing basis.

The numbers do look overwhelming.  You should see them when we enter in the total number of kids on the free and reduced lunch program in Oakland County … 3.8 million pencils alone!  Yes, that number is write (I couldn’t resist).

Besides these core school supplies, we also accept other new & used/usable items which are appropriate for school-aged children and their classrooms.  We enjoy being able to provide the widest variety of items available throughout the year.

How can you help?

There are millions of different ways to work with Operation: Kid Equip to assist our local kids in need.  Here are some random, quick examples of how some individuals, businesses and organizations help the kids of OKE:

• Lunch room moms at a couple schools collected school supplies to donate.  It was an excellent example of teaching kids to help kids.
• Several people asked their friends to give to Operation: Kid Equip in lieu of birthday gifts.
• Girl Scout troops collected pencils and other school supplies.
• A neighborhood block party will collect school supplies.
• When the back-to-school sales are in full force, many people bought extra school supplies and sent them to OKE.
• Civic groups like the Livonia Kiwanis Club worked to help a local school in need.
• One of our Twitter friends, Heidi Massey (@HeidiEKMassey) started a Twitter-based school supply drive, along with Feller Business Solutions (@FellerBus).  Feller is offering donors a nice discount and free shipping direct to OKE.
• The staff at North American Bancard held a drive within their offices and fellow employees brought in school supplies.
• Some businesses have also cleaned out their supply closets of excess inventory.  Last year, we also received binders and other folders from companies who had excess or were rebranding.  The moral of this story is:  Think Operation: Kid Equip first before the landfill.
• One real estate agent is considering donating a percentage of her sales commission.
• The Bloomfield Hill franchisee of BIGGBY Coffee has been a long-standing community school supply drop-off location for school supplies and winter wear.  They even offered a special incentive for those who brought in items.
• PositiveDetroit.net coordinated a collaboration of local female bloggers to help local third graders receive new dictionaries.
• Troy Oaks Congregation holds a drive throughout the year for their church-goers to bring in school supplies.
• Some people and groups don’t have time to shop and simply make cash contributions to take advantage of Operation: Kid Equip’s buying power.

We hope this quick list inspires your creativity & imagination to bring out ways you can help.  Invite your family, friends, co-workers and fellow group members along and make it a fun & rewarding group effort.

There is no such thing as a donation that’s too small.  Every item we receive is greatly appreciated by the teachers and students.  Even one pencil, or one crayon, can help a child release their potential.

Oh, and for our night owl friends, our new building in Berkley has a mail slot for a quick after hours drop off.

Feel free to contact us with any questions or awesome ideas to help our kids succeed in school and in life.