Do Something.
Staples, Inc., and Do Something.org’s Do Something 101 have partnered with recording artist Jordin Sparks (American Idol) for a teen-targeted public service announcement effort. The PSAs feature Sparks encouraging teens to get involved with their communities this summer by collecting school supplies, and dropping them off at Staples stores, which will then be distributed to kids in need during back to school season.
More than 11 million kids in the US live below the poverty line and don’t have the basic supplies that they need to succeed. So, let’s Do Something about it!
Led by teens nationwide, Do Something 101 is a campaign to collect new school supplies for kids in need. Drop off new supplies at any Staples store during July and August, and Do Something and Staples will make sure that they’re delivered to people who need them. Start thinking about your summer collection drives and be sure to check back for more details!
Watch the PSA
Watch the Outtakes
11 Facts About US Education
How to Run a Supply Drive
11 Most-Needed Supplies
It’s pretty easy to see that poverty is a cycle that’s hard to break. The donations you collect will help kids who want to learn and can’t afford the basic school supplies they need to succeed.
What is the Poverty Line, anyway? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it’s a family of four (two adults, two children) that earns less than $19,157. Still, $35,000 is basic-needs budget for a U.S. family of four (two adults, two children), as calculated in An Atlas of Poverty in America.
In 2006, nearly 37 million people Americans lived in poverty; 12.8 million were under the age of 18. In the US, poverty is still tied to race: 33% of black children live below the poverty line while 10% of white children do. School budgets are tied to property taxes. This is why schools in poor neighborhoods get about half as much money per student than schools in affluent neighborhoods.
Three-quarters of the nation’s schools (almost 60,000) report needing repairs, renovations or modernization in order to reach good condition. Not surprisingly, most schools in bad condition are in cities where at least 70% of students are below the poverty line. Urban students are less likely to graduate than their suburban counterparts. In 2004, the overall graduation rate for urban districts was 60.4% compared to 74.9% in suburbs. Graduation rates are also lower among certain groups, particularly ethnic minorities and males. In 2004, the graduation rate among African-Americans was 53.4% compared to 76.2% for whites. In 2004, 17 of the nation’s 50 largest cities had high school graduation rates lower than 50%, with the lowest rates reported in Detroit (24.9%), Indianapolis (30.5%) and Cleveland (34.1%). Children of poor families are up to six times more likely to drop out than wealthy children. Are you inspired to make a difference? Check out our tips for your drive!
11 Most Needed Supplies
Some supplies are definitely in higher demand than others. Here is a list of some supplies you should encourage people to bring to your drive. Remember to only accept new donations.
- Pens & #2 Pencils
- 3-Ring Binders
- Box of Colored Pencils
- Loose-Leaf & Copy Paper
- Book Covers
- Spiral Notebooks
- Planners
- Highlighters & Markers
- Index Cards
- Folders with Pockets
- Calculators
How to Run a Supply Drive
Get your friends on board You don’t want to do this alone so recruit all your friends to help you out. Make it fun! Spread the word You need to market your drive! Make posters and flyers with all the details and hang them in local stores, at sports fields and around town. Don’t forget Facebook events and Myspace bulletins!
- Get attention. Be creative and decorate collection boxes. You can even put the Do Something 101 logo on t-shirts, banners, whatever!
- Make it easy. People are more likely to help if it’s simple, so go where the people are. Baseball games, the pool, summer camps – you know your community best.
- Make sure they are new – We all know that having “new” supplies for back to school is important to everyone, so make sure not to accept anything used or damaged.
- Finishing up – Officially end the drive by letting everyone know how many supplies were collected and give a special thanks to everyone who helped.
- Tell Do Something about it and you could be featured on the homepage!
- Dropping them off – Donate the supplies you’ve collected to a Staples store in your area in July and August. Drop off bins will be located near the registers.
DOWNLOADS Supply Drive Poster (blank)Supply Drive Poster Do Something 101 logo
