Back to School Supply Drive
Organizing a Supply Drive
To help you get started with a successful school supply drive to benefit the Back to School Giveaway Event, we have put
together some suggestions and materials to conduct a supply drive. Please contact the Supply Zone for Teachers, a
service of the Brevard Schools Foundation, at 321-617-7727 or 321-633-3660, ext. 301 for more information.
Step 1 – Recruit a committee of volunteers to assist you with the drive
You may want to consider recruiting for the following roles:
Supply Drive Coordinator – to coordinate locations, goals and communication
Marketing Coordinator – to promote drive and distribute marketing materials
Supply Coordinator – to sort and count supplies
Logistics Coordinator – to deliver supplies or arrange for pick up
Financial Coordinator – to accept and track monetary donations
Step 2 – Determine when and where to hold the drive
Make it easy to get to! Collection bins should be placed in a well-marked, secure, highly visible area such as a lobby,
break room or any other place employees regularly pass by or congregate.
The space should be large enough to accommodate the number of supplies you expect to gather during the drive or
have a storage location in mind.
Step 3 – Determine what type of supplies will be collected
Below are our top 10 most requested items, you can choose to collect all of these items, or focus on a few items:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Books (fiction & non-fiction)
#2 Pencils
Paper
Glue
Crayons
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Backpacks
Colored Pencils
Highlighters
Erasers
Post-It Notes
Step 4 – Determine the dates of your supply drive
A successful drive should be completed within 2 weeks. Donors need time to obtain the information, go shopping for
the supplies and to get the supplies to the drop site.
Step 5 – Determine your organization’s goal for the drive
Remember to be optimistic but realistic based on your organization’s size and audience. Having a goal will help you
develop a plan as well as allow you to motivate with daily or weekly progress reports and reminders.
If possible, break your goal down into smaller goals for departments, areas, floors, etc. Ask for regular reports from
your areas and send out emails announcing progress and challenges.
Step 6 – Promote your supply drive
Begin with a kick-off meeting or event to explain the drive and encourage participation.
Market your event by putting up flyers and posters and sending e-mail blasts. Consider adding something to your
email signature block for the duration of the drive to remind co-workers with each correspondence.
Create some excitement and competition by holding challenges within the organization or with your competitors.
Create themes based on a particular supply or day of the week or have a dress down day if a particular supply is
donated.
Send frequent updates of your progress toward the goal; mention how much is still needed. A Supply Drive Meter in
the lobby or break room will be a good reminder to employees as they come and go.
Sell a Dress Down Day, all employees donating supplies on a certain day are allowed to wear jeans.
Push the Last Day – try to make an event of the last day, create some excitement and offer rewards for those that
get involved.
*Remember, cash donations are also accepted by those employees who do not wish to shop for supplies.
Step 7 – Deliver Supplies/Donations to the Supply Zone for Teachers
Once the supply drive is over, supplies should be packed into manageable containers and delivered to the Supply
Zone for Teachers. Please contact the Supply Zone directly prior to the drop off.
Step 8 – Thank those who participated
Think of a creative way to thank those individuals that participated in the drive.
*If someone chooses to make a financial contribution to your drive, checks can be made payable to Brevard Schools
Foundation. All funds received are doubled by a Matching Funds Grant. Monetary donations will be used to purchase
supplies through our partners for a fraction of the retail costs.
Other Ways to Support the Back to School Giveaway Event
Volunteer
The Back to School Giveaway Event relies on volunteers. Volunteers can assist by answering phones to register students
for the event, sorting donations, packing backpacks, and distributing supplies to students. Volunteers are essential to the
success of this program.
Contribute Financially
All financial donations are doubled by a Matching Funds Grant. All funds donated to the Back to School Event through
the Supply Zone for Teachers will be used to purchase supplies for Brevard Public School students in need. Through our
relationships with retailers, we are able to purchase supplies for a fraction of the retail price.
Be an Ambassador
The Back to School Giveaway Event is always looking for ambassadors to help share our mission. You can choose to
share with your neighbors, your business, faith or civic organizations, anyone you know!
Supply Zone for Teachers/Back to School Giveaway Event Location and Contact Information
The Supply Zone for Teachers is located at the
Clearlake Education Center
1225 Clearlake Road, Cocoa, FL 32926
For more information on Supply Drives and the Supply Zone, contact the program director:
Elizabeth Schreiber
By phone: 321.617.7727
By email: Schreiber.Elizabeth@BrevardSchools.org
Back to School Supply Drive Toolkit
Thank you for participating in a Supply Drive for the Back to School Giveaway Event. This toolkit will provide you with the
basic information for organizing a drive, so please use as much or as little as you need.
For creating your School Supply Drive collection receptacle:
 Back to School logo with location and mission
 Most needed supplies
Sample emails to be sent throughout your organization to promote, remind and finalize a School Supply Drive:
 Getting Started Email
 Reminder Email
 Last Call Email
 Wrap-up/Thank you Email
Promotional Materials
 A document that can be posted around your building to promote your drive.
 A document that can be printed and used as a payroll stuffer, internal mailbox stuffer, etc. to
promote your drive.
Fundraising Ideas
 A description of fundraising ideas that will help raise money to be donated to the Supply Zone,
these are Fun-raising ideas!
If you have questions or we can provide any additional information to make your drive a success, please contact
Elizabeth Schreiber at 321-617-7727 or schreiber.elizabeth@brevardschools.org
Located at Clearlake Education Center in Cocoa, Florida
The Back to School Giveaway Event serves the educational and creative
needs of low-income children in Brevard Public Schools by providing free
backpacks filled with school supplies.
Most Needed Supplies
Backpacks
#2 Pencils
Composition Books
Mechanical Pencils
Glue
Crayons
Markers
Colored Pencils
Rulers
Pencil Pouches
Notebook Paper
Scissors
Erasers
Pens
Highlighters
Post-It Notes
Questions about the Back to School Giveaway Event?
Please contact:
Elizabeth Schreiber, Supply Zone Manager
321-617-7727
321-633-3660 X 301
Schreiber.Elizabeth@BrevardSchools.org
Sample Emails for Supply Drive
Announcing Your Supply Drive
Suggested Subject: Help us give School Supplies to Kids in Need
Suggested Message: Imagine going to school without a pencil, a notebook or even a backpack. More than 48% of
students in Brevard County are from homes below the poverty level and will go to school each day without these
supplies. Each student deserves to have the supplies needed to succeed in the classroom.
Help Organization Name employees make an impact on our community, by helping children who need school supplies
but cannot afford them.
The supplies that teachers ask for the most include, but are not limited to:
Backpacks
#2 Pencils
Glue
Post-It Notes
Scissors
Crayons
Markers
Colored Pencils
Erasers
Filler Paper
Composition Notebooks
Highlighters
Mechanical Pencils
Pens
Pencil Sharpeners
Pencil Pouches
Rulers
Donation points are located locations and will be available through dates. Monetary donations are also encouraged and
will be doubled by a Brevard Schools Foundation Matching Funds Grant. Please write your check to Brevard Schools
Foundation (with Supply Zone for Teachers in the memo line) and give to designated person.
Thank you for your participation!
Signed Drive Organizer
Reminding/Encouraging of the Supply Drive
Suggested Subject: Have you donated supplies yet?
This is a friendly reminder to bring in your checks or school supply donations for the Back to School Supply Drive.
Donation areas can be found in locations and will be there through enter dates.
Thank you for helping organization or company name provide school supplies to children who would not otherwise have
access to them. Your generosity will help local students be prepared and ready to learn.
Remember, if you would rather make a monetary donation, please give your cash or check payable to Brevard Schools
Foundation to designated person.
Thank you!
Signed Drive Organizer
Last call for Supply Drive
Suggested Subject: Tomorrow is the last day of the Back to School Supply Drive!
Tomorrow is the last day that organization or company name will be collecting donations for the Back to School Supply
Drive. Supply donation areas can be found in locations.
Thank you for helping local children gain access to the supplies they need to succeed in school.
Remember, if you would rather make a monetary donation, please give your cash or check payable to Brevard Schools
Foundation to designated person.
Thank you!
Signed Drive Organizer
Thanking your Donors
Suggested Subject: Thank you for supporting the Back to School Supply Drive
With your generous contribution to the Back to School Supply Drive, organization’s name was able to give local children
the school supplies they need to succeed in the classroom. These children can now go to school prepared and ready to
learn.
Thank you for helping organization’s name to make a difference in the lives of local students!
Signed Drive Organizer
Your Organization’s Logo Here
Back to School Supply Drive
Please help COMPANY NAME become a hero to local classrooms!
The Back to School Supply Giveaway is an annual event that distributes free school supplies to
students and families who qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch. The Supply Zone for Teachers
will fill backpacks with necessary school supplies and give them to these students on Saturday,
July 25. Items to be distributed include but are not limited to:
Backpacks
#2 Pencils
Notebook Paper
Glue
Crayons
Composition Books
Mechanical Pencils
Folders
Colored Pencils
Highlighters
Erasers
Post-It Notes
Rulers
Markers
Pencil Pouches
Pens
Think about going to school on the first day without even having a pen or pencil. Many children in
Brevard County face this situation each year when school starts. Starting date through date, you may
place donations of school or office supplies in the marked receptacles located in place. Please
consider helping children in need as they are headed back to school this fall and throughout the
school year.
Do you have questions about The Back to School Giveaway Event? Please contact Elizabeth Schreiber,
at 321-617-7727, 321-633-3660 ext. 301, or Schreiber.Elizabeth@BrevardSchools.org.
Your Organization’s Logo Here
Back to School Supply Drive
Please help COMPANY NAME become a hero to local classrooms!
The Back to School Supply Giveaway is an annual event that distributes free school supplies to students and families who qualify
for Free or Reduced Lunch. The Supply Zone for Teachers will fill backpacks with necessary school supplies and give them to these
students on Saturday, July 25. Items to be distributed include but are not limited to:
Backpacks
# 2 Pencils
Paper
Glue
Crayons
Mechanical Pencils
Colored Pencils
Highlighters
Erasers
Post-It Notes
Think about going to school on the first day without having a pen or pencil. Many children in Brevard County face this situation
each year when they start a new school year. Starting date through date, you may place donations of school supplies in the
marked receptacles located in place. Please consider helping students in need as they are headed back to school this fall.
Do you have questions about The Back to School Supply Giveaway? Please contact Elizabeth Schreiber at 321-617-7727 or
schreiber.elizabeth@brevardschools.org.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Your Organization’s Logo Here
Back to School Supply Drive
Please help COMPANY NAME become a hero to local classrooms!
The Back to School Supply Giveaway is an annual event that distributes free school supplies to students and families who qualify
for Free or Reduced Lunch. The Supply Zone for Teachers will fill backpacks with necessary school supplies and give them to these
students on Saturday, July 25. Items to be distributed include but are not limited to:
Backpacks
# 2 Pencils
Paper
Glue
Crayons
Mechanical Pencils
Colored Pencils
Highlighters
Erasers
Post-It Notes
Think about going to school on the first day without having a pen or pencil. Many children in Brevard County face this
situation each year when they start a new school year. Starting date through date, you may place donations of school
supplies in the marked receptacles located in place. Please consider helping students in need as they are headed back to
school this fall.
Do you have questions about The Back to School Supply Giveaway? Please contact Elizabeth Schreiber at 321-617-7727
or schreiber.elizabeth@brevardschools.org.
Fundraiser Ideas
Workplace Fundraising Ideas to Accompany School Supply Drives
1. BINGO! - Get prizes donated and have participating employees pay a participation fee. The game can also be played
via email by calling out numbers throughout the day as Virtual BINGO!
2. 50/50 Raffle - Sell raffle tickets and offer half of the proceeds as prizes.
3. Buy a Meal – Have volunteers donate homemade meals to sell for lunches.
4. Penny Wars or Change Drives – Employees accumulate loose pennies or change to donate to the Back to School
Giveaway Event. Adding a competitive aspect among departments brings in more money and adds a fun twist!
5. Brown Bag It – Encourage coworkers to bring their lunch from home and donate the money saved by not eating out
to the Back to School Giveaway Event.
6. Dress Down for a Cause – Invite employees to “pay” to wear jeans to work.
7. Coloring Contest – Invite employees to “purchase” a coloring page for their children to decorate, these can be posted
around your organization to show support of the cause and add a bit of cheer to the workplace. Proceeds will benefit
the Back to School Giveaway Event.
8. Bake Sale – Ask for donations of baked goods and sell them along with coffee to start the morning off right!
9. Raffle – Purchase a gift card (or ask that one be donated) to a restaurant and sell raffle tickets with donations going to
the Back to School Giveaway Event.
10. Bail Me Out! – Handcuff several willing fundraisers and set them free once they raise “bail.”
11. Design It Up! – Design and sell t-shirts advertising your group’s cause.
12. Give It up! – Participants commit to give up a regular activity for a month and donate the money they save to the
designated cause.
13. Matching Funds – Ask a corporation or individual to match any donations that your organization collects in a
specified amount of time so that the money raised is doubled or even tripled!
14. Eraser Count – Fill a container with pencil cap erasers (or other small school supply) and have people pay to guess
how many there are in the jar.
15. Social Media – Use your social media sites to promote your supply drive and encourage your followers to
participate.
Imagination is the Key – Successful fundraisers are fun and relate to the business or organization’s goal, the more
involvement the more money will be raised!
How You Can Help
NOT A SHOPPER?
You can still help and we’ll make your money go further!
 Your monetary contribution will be DOUBLED by a Matching Funds Grant provided by
the Florida Department of Education!
 Through partnerships with school supply vendors, we are able to use your financial
contributions to purchase school supplies at a fraction of the retail price.
 Your donation will be used to purchase school supplies for our most economically
disadvantaged students. With your support, we can ensure that they have the supplies
they need to learn, achieve, and succeed in school.
Please make a tax-deductible donation today!
To make a donation:
We gratefully accept credit card, check, and cash donations. Please designate the Supply Zone as the donation recipient.
Credit card donations can be made at www.BrevardSchoolsFoundation.com or 321-633-1000, ext. 436.
Checks can be made out to Brevard Schools Foundation and sent to 2700 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, FL 32940.
Please specify The Supply Zone for Teachers in the memo line.
Questions about Supply Zone for Teachers? Contact Elizabeth Schreiber at
321-633-3660, ext. 301 or Schreiber.elizabeth@brevardschools.org.