VCU community helps elementary school students prepare for a new school year

By Mike Porter

The Virginia Commonwealth University community is helping elementary school students in surrounding neighborhoods enjoy a strong start to the new school year.

For the first time, VCU’s Welcome Week activities included a university-wide school supply drive.

“We wanted to come up with a service project the entire VCU community could be part of,” said Meredith Schram, Welcome Week chair.  “Anybody can participate. It’s not cost-prohibitive,” Schram said.

School supply donation boxes have been placed in residence halls and other “high traffic” university buildings. Organizers hope students, faculty and staff members will fill the boxes with pens, pencils, notebooks, binders, paper, rulers and other basic school supplies.  

“Many of the schools start the year with a deficit, because some parents can’t afford to buy the basic supplies their children need,” said Ronald Brown, community development coordinator/liaison of the Carver-VCU Partnership. “This effort helps the students start the school year with what they need so the learning process is a positive,” Brown said.

The Welcome Week school supply drive began Aug, 16 and continues through Sept. 5.  Volunteers will then sort through the donations and deliver the supplies to Carver and Maymont elementary schools in Richmond.    
 
“And actually, we’re hoping we get so many contributions that we’ll be able to share any extras with other area schools,” Schram said.

While many in the VCU community are donating supplies, others are donating their time.

VCU staff members and students participated in the YMCA of Greater Richmond’s “Bright Beginnings” program, accompanying students from Carver Elementary School on a shopping trip to buy clothes for the school year.

On a recent trip to the Mechanicsville Target store, 30 Students from Carver Elementary were paired with adults who helped them shop for two school outfits, shoes, underwear, a jacket and shoes.  Each student could spend up to $100. They carried calculators to carefully track the costs.

“This is a great way to give back to the kids,” said Stephanie Jones, a VCU senior majoring in accounting.  “I remember how excited I was shopping for school.  And I can see how excited the children are here today.”

Jones plans eventually to become a teacher. Her work with Carver Promise has allowed her to form close bonds with children in their classrooms.

“I usually see the students in school, so it’s fun to be doing something with them outside,” Jones said.

VCU’s efforts to interact with the community are coordinated through the Division of Community Engagement.