“About 85 percent of my scholars are impacted daily with not having the proper supplies they need to be successful in the classroom,” Mario Black, a Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools teacher, said.
Black said he knows that students can’t be successful unless they are properly equipped with school supplies.
Studies have proven that when students have their own school supplies, their grades and classroom behavior improve and they become more excited about school and learning.
Black said the lack of school supplies plays a vital role in a child's development socially, physically and mentally.
“When scholars don't have what is needed for school, they don't give it their all,” Black said.
For the past 20 years, in partnership with Communities in Schools Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Classroom Central, the WSOC-TV 9 School Tools program collects school supplies, which are then distributed to students in grades K – 12. These items play a big role in preparing students to be successful in the upcoming school year. School supplies raised in local fundraisers stay in the collecting county.
“I am a huge supporter of 9 School Tools,” Black said. “I see fist-hand how the supplies are able to be a blessing to so many scholars whose families cannot afford to purchase school supplies.”
“A lot of educators spend our own salary to buy school supplies for our scholars,” Black said. “We do it without wanting anything in return, and we are passionate about our scholars day in and day out.”
Every school year, area teachers spend $500 to $1,000 of their own money on basic school supplies for their students.
Some of the most needed items in Black’s class are pencils, paper and backpacks.
“To be honest, any donation would help benefit our school,” Black said.
9 School Tools covers 22 counties and is the largest school supply drive in the Carolinas. Over the past 20 years, 9 School Tools has been able to serve over 3 million students.
From now until August 20, you can donate school supplies at over 90 donation locations across the Carolinas including WSOC-TV 9 Family Focus partner locations: Showmars, Ashley HomeStore, Hendrick Honda and E.R. Plumbing Services. You can find your nearest donation location by clicking on this link. 9 School Tools Donation Locations
Learn more about the 9 School Tools at www.9SchoolTools.com
If your organization or business would like to get involved or help with 9 School Tools, or if you have an inspiring story to share, please email Kevin Campbell, community affairs manager for WSOCTV, at kevin.campbell@wsoctv.com
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