To help students get off on the right track this school year, Lancaster, PA-based Ecore recently hosted its “Just 4 Things” school supply drive to benefit four elementary schools in the School District of Lancaster.
The manufacturer of safe, ergonomic and acoustic performance surfaces for commercial and athletic markets hosted the summer supply drive during July and collected 4,712 items for Fulton, Carter & MacRae, Washington and King Elementary schools.
“We felt called to do something that would make people’s lives better in our immediate community,” says Britta Burton, director of supply chain and chairwoman of the communications committee at Ecore. “The School District of Lancaster (SDoL) has a very high poverty rate and is the same district in which our Lancaster plant is located and many of our employees live. We know these kids will one day be future leaders, and we wanted to show them that Ecore cares about them and their success.”
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Once Ecore decided to help the School District of Lancaster with its supply drive, the company reached out to Kelly Burkholder, the coordinator of Community Relations for the SDoL, who provided the names of the four elementary schools that had the most need for supplies.
In an effort to collect as many supplies as possible, Ecore encouraged its employees to develop teams of 10 people to engage in a friendly competition. The schools provided wish lists for the most needed items, including:
- Hand soap
- Pencils
- Detergents
- Deodorant
- Uniforms
- Socks
“We also partnered with an online resource called YOUGIVEGOODS.com that allowed the teams to reach out to friends, families and local business partners to donate,” says Burton. Nine teams participated in total—the winning team collected 1,864 items.
Over the years, Burton adds that Ecore has hosted several collection drives, including supporting local food banks, donating supplies for hurricane victims in Houston and Puerto Rico, as well as rallying around Ecore family members in times of tragedy.
“In my almost 30-year career, I have never experienced a more benevolent organization than Ecore,” she says.
Burton states that Ecore strives to benefit at least one local or national non-profit organization each year through a collection drive.
The company also sets aside a community outreach fund each year, in which local non-profit organizations can submit requests for financial aid, surfacing or volunteer support.
For more information visit: www.ecoreintl.com.
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