Four big Employers in Palm Beach Supplying $110,000 in Backpacks

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Sugar Team up with The Education Foundation of Palm Beach County to Supply Thousands of Backpacks to Elementary School Students. FPL and Gunster join the effort resulting in $110,000 in donated supplies.

West Palm Beach, FL – To ease parents’ costs for this school year, The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Sugar, Gunster and Florida Power & Light Company (FPL)  have donated $110,000 in backpacks filled with school supplies for students in Title 1 elementary schools in Belle Glade, Pahokee, South Bay and Canal Point. In addition, U.S. Sugar will supply backpacks in Hendry County. Title 1 schools are federally designated as having a high concentration of students from low income households.

The back-to-school effort was launched in partnership with The Education Foundation of Palm Beach County and its Red Apple Supplies (RAS) Program, a free school supply store that serves the needs of Title 1 schools. 

“One surefire way to keep children from falling behind in school is to make sure they are prepared with school supplies from day one,” said James Gavrilos, president and CEO of The Education Foundation of Palm Beach County. “Thousands of school-age children in our community will get the opportunity to succeed thanks to the commitment and generosity of these major employers in our region.”

Deliveries will take place before the first day of school. Two Men and A Truck of Palm Beach have generously donated their time and equipment to transport backpacks filled with supplies to support nine Title 1 elementary schools within the Glades Region and Hendry County.

“Nearly 70 percent of schools in Palm Beach County are designated as Title 1, meaning, these students and families are living at or below the poverty line,” added Gavrilos. “This back-to-school initiative will have a big impact on the lives of so many families.”

Since opening its doors in 2016, the RAS has distributed over $900,000 in free school supplies to teachers and students throughout Palm Beach County.