For the 2017-18 school year, the average cost parents shelled out for school supplies was $662 for every elementary school-aged child, $1,001 for every middle school-aged child and $1,489 for every high school-aged child, according to the annual Backpack Index.
Couple that with the 15 million American children who live in poverty or the 21 million who qualify for free and reduced lunch, and you’ll start to see that some families can face a lot of tough decisions. And if — or when — it comes to livelihoods like keeping a roof over a family’s head, things like school supplies can easily fall low on the priority list.
That’s why, from July 16 to Aug. 17, Windstream is hosting a nationwide back-to-school supply donation drive.
Nearly all teachers surveyed in the 2017 School Supply Impact Report said getting school supplies is “critical” or “very important” to daily classroom activities, and 83 percent said access to school supplies increases classroom participation.
We at Windstream are committed to giving back to the communities we serve, and this school supply drive will provide many children with the essential supplies they need to be successful in school.
Visit any Windstream retail store to donate supplies — paper, crayons, scissors, pencils, pens, glue, markers, folders, erasers, tissues or any other items used classrooms everyday. Visitors of any of our retail stores can also enter to win a Chromebook 11. The winner will be announced Aug. 24.
Florida
Live Oak
206 White Avenue
Live Oak, FL 32064
(386) 364-2400
Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–5 p.m
Organization receiving donation: Love, Inc.
Georgia
Blairsville
294 Hwy 515 W, Suite J
Blairsville, GA 30512
(706) 745-6911
Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Organization receiving donation: Family Connections
Canton
1453 Riverstone Parkway, Suite 110
Canton, GA 30114
(770) 479-2000
Mon.–Fri., 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Organization receiving donation: The Children’s Haven
Commerce
149 Pottery Factory Drive
Commerce, GA 30529
(706) 335-6640
Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Organization receiving donation: The Daisy House
Cornelia
282 Furniture Plaza, Unit C
Cornelia, GA 30531
(706) 778-2500
Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Organization receiving donation: The Torch
Dahlonega
340 Wal-Mart Way, Unit C
Dahlonega, GA 30533
(706) 867-3333
Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Organization receiving donation: Rainbow Children’s Home
Dalton
615 S Thornton Ave
Dalton, GA 30720
(706) 279-7000
Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Organization receiving donation: Carolyn Baptist Church
Douglas
400 E Bryan Street
Douglas, GA 31533
(912) 384-1072
Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Organization receiving donation: Douglas Boys and Girls Club
Milledgeville
750 North Jefferson Street
Milledgeville, GA 31061
(478) 453-3588
Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Organization receiving donation: Families and Youth Innovation, Inc.
Moultrie
537 Veterans Parkway NE
Moultrie, GA 31768
(229) 985-8000
Mon.–Fri., 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Organization receiving donation: Moultrie Boys and Girls Club
Kentucky
Campbellsville
1715 East Broadway
Campbellsville, KY 42718
(270) 465-3141
Mon.–Fri., 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Elizabethtown
111 South Main
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(270) 765-1892
Mon.–Fri., 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Organization receiving donation: Hardin County and Elizabethtown Family Resource
Lexington
2121 Richmond Rd Suite 110
Lexington, KY 40503
(859) 253-4447
Mon.–Fri., 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Organization receiving donation: Fayette Board of Education
London
719 North Main Street
London, KY 40741
(606) 878-3286
Mon.–Fri., 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Organization receiving donation: Laurel Board of Education
Somerset
305 North Main Street
Somerset, KY 42501
(606) 679-4584
Mon.–Fri., 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
North Carolina
Albemarle
250 North First Street
Albemarle, NC 28001
(704) 722-3355
Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Concord
68 Cabarrus Avenue East
Concord, NC 28025
(704) 722-4455
Mon.–Fri., 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Organization receiving donation: Cabarrus Baptist Association
Lexington
238 Lowes Blvd
Lexington, NC 27292
(336) 249-5908
Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Organization receiving donation: United Way of Davidson County
Nebraska
Hastings
321 N Saint Joseph Ave
Hastings, NE 68901
(402) 462-7900
Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Organization receiving donation: Hastings Public Schools PTA
Lincoln
1440 M Street
Lincoln, NE 68508-2513
(402) 436-4500
Mon.–Fri., 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Organization receiving donation: PTA West Lincoln Elementary
New Mexico
Espanola
2027 N Riverside Drive
Espanola, NM 87533
(505) 747-6200
Mon.–Fri., 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Organization receiving donation: Help New Mexico
Hobbs
320 North Shipp Street
Hobbs, NM 88240
(575) 397-0912
Mon.–Fri., 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Organization receiving donation: United Way of Lea County
South Carolina
Lexington
5135 Sunset Blvd, Suite J
Lexington, SC 29072
(803) 808-2000
Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Organization receiving donation: United Way of Midlands
Texas
Texarkana
2315 Richmond Road, Suite 101
Texarkana, TX 75503
(903) 223-4688
Mon.–Fri., 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; Sat. 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Organization receiving donation: Waggoner Creek PTA