GM Back-to-School Mission Drive

August 9, 2012 10:22 am CT

It’s early August, and you know what that means. Back to school is right around the corner and it’s time to start thinking about preparing for a new school year. Teachers will head back to school campuses first and their wish lists for back-to-school are longer than most kids’ Christmas lists. The Social Media Club of Jacksonville was more than ready to take up a challenge of securing school supply donations for the teachers of Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville, Fla., by completing a challenge and racing against the clock to gather as many school supplies as possible in under 20 minutes.

The Saturday began with a quick intake of caffeine at Sippers Coffee to get the juices flowing. Social Media Club members were divided into teams and were issued a word search challenge designed to give them guidance for their mission. The first two teams to complete the word search got $25 gas cards and were very happy campers!

With a completed word search in hand, featuring popular teacher favorites such as markers, highlighters, rulers, pencils, chalk, etc., five teams entered Office Max each with a $75 gift card. A 20-minute challenge was issued to each team to find as many school supply items on the list as possible while using as much of their $75 gift card as possible.

Social Media Club members rose to the challenge and all $75 gift cards were spent in record time. Teams loaded a GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave, Chevy Traverse Equinox, and Sonic with school supplies and hit the road headed towards the Teacher Supply Depot, a center that collects new supplies and gently used office furniture to provide to Duval County teachers free of charge on several occasions throughout the school year.

After unloading supplies, members were divided into small groups and given tasks designed to prepare the Teacher Supply Depot for their first opening date of August 10, where all Duval County Public School teachers are welcome to come in and fill up to three canvas bags full of school supplies at no cost to prepare them for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year.

The day ended at Broadway Ristorante & Pizzeria, a favorite pizzeria in town. Club members enjoyed a few slices while looking back over the challenge and how their volunteer efforts had gone a long way in helping the Teacher Supply Depot and local teachers.

All in a day’s work!