UB school supply drive sets record

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo community gets an A+ for generosity, donating more than 24,000 items in this year’s school supply drive sponsored by the Office of Community Relations. In all, 24,469 items were collected, making this year’s drive the most successful one yet.

This year’s drive doubled the number of items collected just two years ago and is nearly 10 times more than what was collected when the program began in 2009.

“This program has grown exponentially over the years and the generosity of our faculty, staff and students in providing needed tools for the academic achievement of our local youth is outstanding,” says Linwood Roberts, UB’s community relations director.

“Providing the children with these supplies alleviates a potential barrier and allows them to focus on their academic lessons. It’s another example of the university’s support and impact within the city and region.”

The haul included more than 3,000 notebooks, 9,500 sheets of loose leaf paper and more than 600 pens and 1,700 pencils, among other items. These items will be used by students at the following schools around UB’s campuses: Futures Academy (Downtown Campus), Bilingual Center (Downtown), Martin Luther King Multicultural Institute (Downtown), Highgate Heights Elementary (South Campus) and Westminster Community Charter School (South).

Departments and offices across all three UB campuses contributed to the cause.