Each year, thousands of SBISD students who qualify for free and reduced lunch (more than half the district’s population) receive school supplies from Spring Branch Education Foundation. When SBEF board member Patty Busmire reported to the Foundation’s board that funding had dropped this year, members pledged personal and corporate donations. The community contributed more money through PledgeCents, a crowd-sourcing website.

Altogether, the board and community raised more than $22,000 for the program and provided supplies to students in 30 Spring Branch ISD schools. Busmire says, “We’re thrilled with the outpouring of support from the Board and community and for the continued logistical help from the district warehouse.”

More than 100 teen-age volunteers gathered on August 11 and 12 to sort the supplies before being delivered to the schools. Alexis Bennett, a Memorial High School student, coordinated the volunteers. The teens represent a number of organizations such as the National Charity League, National Honor Society, Memorial Outreach Bunch and more. The drive has become an annual tradition for Busmire and her daughter, Becky Busmire, a senior at St. Edwards University in Austin, TX.

Learning begins on the first school day when students have everything they need to get started. The community made this possible!

Photo: Jacob Long, Memorial High School freshman, and Alex Long, MHS senior