Community groups partner to start the school year right

Audi of America employees Sara Smolek and Sarah Flowers pack an Audi with school supplies to support the Avondale Gift of Giving Back to School Drive.

Students in the Avondale School District started the year off right with help from local businesses, parents, and the non-profit organization, Gift of Giving, who teamed up for the annual Gift of Giving Back to School Drive. The goal of the drive is to ensure that every student in the district has the school supplies they need to have a successful school year. The campaign not only provides students with supplies including notebooks, binders, crayons, markers, colored pencils, glue sticks, pens and pencils, it also provides relief to teachers who purchase supplies throughout the year for students in need. According to a country-wide survey of teachers conducted by AdoptAClassroom.org, the average teacher spends about $600 of their own money to purchase supplies for students throughout the school year.

Working behind the scenes to coordinate the massive campaign to collect almost 5,000 items for distribution, Gift of Giving mobilized parents grouped by subdivisions and neighborhoods who set up collection points and gathered the donations. In addition, Gift of Giving engaged local businesses including Audi of America, FCA, Blossom Café, Burn Fitness, DOW Automotive Systems, and Sweets; the Auburn Hills Public Library and the Auburn Hills Community Center; and non-profits Beans to Bags Coffee Roasting Company, Moments Photography, Calling All Dads, and the Avondale School District PTO/Boosters Presidents Council. Neighborhood subdivisions Adams Ridge, Cumberland Woods, Forrest Creek, Heritage Oaks, Kingston Pointe, Pine Trace Village, and Shaker Heights assisted too by promoting the event and providing donation drop-off points. Avondale parents assisting with the effort were Angel Lau, Susan Good, Jen Rosasco, Julie Kosovec, Debbie Dworack, Kris Rose and Lisa Wilcock. In total, between organizers and donators, Gift of Giving estimates that more than a thousand people came together to contribute to the success of the drive.

“Our community was so eager to help out this year,” said event organizer and Avondale parent, Angel Lau, “the collaboration and partnership that has been demonstrated is just another example of the love that has blossomed from this community.”

In addition to the Back to School Drive, Gift of Giving supports students in the Avondale School District community with a Holiday Gift and Clothing Drive. Last year the drive provided more than 500 winter items; an additional 400+ clothing items and pairs of shoes; 6000 cans of food; and toys and gifts for approximately 400 children. Gift of Giving promises 100% of all donations goes directly to support children in the community. Learn more about Gift of Giving at https://www.giftofgiving-mi.org/gift-of-giving.