With back to school time upon us in the Alberni Valley, Staples is making sure that every student has what they need to succeed this year.
“We try and raise as much money as we can and then I work with the school district to buy the supplies that the kids that can’t afford them need to make sure that every kid has the opportunity to be successful in their school year,” said Port Alberni Staples general manager Nicole Mitchell.
“We take donations at the till.”
The Staples staff also get in on the fundraising.
“The staff does Jeans Day so we pay $2 on Fridays to wear jeans and we donate that money.”
The whole community, from local service clubs to business, has been helping out, Mitchell added.
“Local businesses donate prizes that we’re silent auctioning off, so if somebody doesn’t just want to do a straight donation they can come in and bid on an awesome prize,” Mitchell said.
“We’ve had some really good participation this year from the local businesses.”
While people may be tempted to buy school supplies to donate themselves, Mitchell says that Staples can make your dollar go further.
“We can make the money go further because we’re such a big company. We get things a lot cheaper than other places would get them and I always give the product at cost, there’s no money made by Staples,” said Mitchell.
“Then also if [the school district] needs money for other things we just give them the money as opposed to giving them the stuff. It’s always dependent on what the school district feels that the kids need and how we can best help with the money we’re raised.”
Staples’ Stock the Lockers program runs until Sept. 10. For more information, visit Staples at the Pacific Rim Mall or call 250-720-2460.
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