RALEIGH, N.C. — WakeEd Partnership (WakeEd), a business-backed nonprofit organization committed to supporting the teachers, students, and families of the Wake County Public School System, is launching “Back to School with Tools4Schools” on July 9, an eight-week community-wide school supply drive to help stock the shelves and warehouse at Tools4Schools, WakeEd’s free classroom supply store for Wake County Public School teachers. The drive runs from July 9 to August 22, concluding just before the start of the traditional school year.
“Thanks to the generosity of our community, funders, and partners, WakeEd Partnership has provided more than $1.6 million in new school supplies to Wake County Public School teachers since opening Tools4Schools in 2022,” said Keith Poston, President of WakeEd Partnership. “As public school funding continues to fall short, the demand for free classroom supplies is only growing. With continued public support, we can meet that need and ensure every teacher has the tools to help students succeed.”
This past school year WakeEd’s Tools4Schools served more than 5,000 teachers representing 100% of the schools in the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS). In a recent survey, 94% of those teachers said Tools4Schools has reduced their out-of-pocket spending. Our teachers spend on average more than $1,000 each year on basic school supplies for their classroom and students.
“It’s simply unacceptable that teachers—who are already underpaid—are forced to spend more than $1,000 of their own money each year just to make sure their students have basic supplies,” said Poston. “The fact that 5,000 teachers from every single Wake County public school turned to Tools4Schools last year shows just how urgent the need is. We cannot expect our educators to shoulder this burden alone. That’s why WakeEd and this community will continue to step up.”
KICK-OFF EVENT AT RETAIL PARTNER – RALEIGH STAPLES
The 2025 Tools4Schools Community Supply Drive will officially kick-off on Tuesday, July 8th at 11:00 AM with a press event at the Staples store at 3064 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, NC 27609. Staples is partnering with WakeEd Partnership for the second year to collect school supplies at all their Wake County stores for community members to drop off donations for the duration of the drive.
“We’re proud to once again support WakeEd Partnership and the incredible Tools4Schools program,” said Brent Zinni, Store Manager at Staples in Raleigh. “Our customers are eager to give back, and we’re excited to provide convenient donation points at all our stores in Wake County to help teachers get the supplies they need.”
School Supply Drop-Off Locations
The Tools4Schools Community Supply Drive will feature drop-off locations across Wake County. Additionally, several businesses and organizations are holding their own school supply drives to collect items for Tools4Schools. If you are interested in hosting a drop box or running a school supply drive at your place of business, complete the form here and download the Community Supply Drive Toolkit here.
- Tools4Schools, 1816 Capital Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27604
- Staples stores – all Wake County Locations:
- 1391 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC
- 921 E. Broad Street, Fuquay-Varina, NC
- 8041 Brier Creek Parkway, Raleigh, NC
- 3064 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, NC
- 11845 Retail Drive, Wake Forest, NC
- 1220 Timber Drive East, Garner, NC
- YMCA Wake County Locations:
- A.E. Finley YMCA, 9216 Baileywick Road, Raleigh, NC
- Kerr Family YMCA, 2500 Wakefield Pines Drive, Raleigh, NC
- Taylor Family YMCA, 101 YMCA Drive, Cary, NC
- Northwest Cary YMCA, 6903 Carpenter Fire Station Road, Cary, NC
- Poyner YMCA, 227 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC
- Alexander Family YMCA, 1603 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC
- Poole Family YMCA, 2110 Aversboro Road, Garner, NC
- Kraft Family YMCA, 8921 Holly Springs Road, Apex, NC
- YMCA of the Triangle Association Resource Center, 801 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC
- Knightdale Station YMCA, 494 Knightdale Station Run, Knightdale, NC
- Southeast Raleigh YMCA, 1436 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh, NC
- Gladwell Orthodontics Locations:
- Wake Forest Location: 2824 Rogers Road, Suite 200, Wake Forest, NC
- Rolesville Location: 101 Redford Place Drive, Rolesville, NC
- Downtown Raleigh Location: 510 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 100, Raleigh, NC
- North Raleigh Location: 13271 Strickland Road, Suite 100, Raleigh, NC
- Spring Arbor Assisted Living: 1705 Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary, NC
- The Bachhubers: 612 Hollymont Dr., Holly Springs, NC
- Crosspointe Church: 6911 Carpenter Fire Station Rd., Cary, NC
- Buffaloe Lanes Cary: 151 High House Rd., Cary, NC
- Towne Bank: 7100 Falls of Neuse Rd., Raleigh, NC
- Grubb Ventures: 3700 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC
- Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More of Raleigh: 6675 Falls of Neuse Rd., Ste. 107, Raleigh, NC
- Raleigh Specific Chiropractic: 7721 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC
- South Cary Dental: 530 New Waverly Place, Suite 302, Cary, NC
How can you support Tools4Schools?
Make a cash donation – DOUBLE YOUR GIFT. All gifts are tax-deductible. Click here to donate using a debit or credit card. Checks can be mailed to WakeEd Partnership at 1816 Capital Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27604 with Tools4Schools on the memo line. The 4 Others Foundation will match ALL MONETARY DONATIONS from donors to Tools4Schools through September 30 up to $20,000.
Donate NEW school supplies. WakeEd accepts donations of new classroom supplies year-round to fill the shelves at Tools4Schools. A list of the most popular items requested by teachers can be found here. Donations can be dropped off year-round at Tools4Schools or this summer at one of our supply drive drop-off locations listed above. Please coordinate large deliveries with the WakeEd team at Tools4Schools@wakeed.org.
SHOP our Amazon Wish List. Shop the Amazon Wishlist to buy items most-requested by teachers and ship to the shelves at Tools4Schools. Click here and select the Tools4Schools address at checkout and ship the supplies directly to Tools4Schools.
Donate gently used office supplies. In addition to new classroom supplies, WakeEd Partnership takes donations of gently used items for classrooms from companies, organizations, and individuals. Most requested used items include staplers and tape dispensers.
Host a supply drive. If your business or organization is interested in hosting a supply drive, click here to register your Tools4Schools classroom supply drive and click here to download our classroom supply drive kit and start collecting! If you have any questions, email Tools4Schools@wakeed.org.
Volunteer at Tools4Schools. WakeEd Partnership is seeking volunteers to help stock shelves, interact with educators, inventory supplies, package, and sort supplies. If your family, club, or organization is interested in volunteering, click here to sign up via Activate Good.
Special Events and Supply Drives (More Coming!)
UNC Health will once again hold its annual school supply drive campaign ending on August 7 with a “Stuff the Bus” event at UNC Rex Hospital on Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh and will deliver the supplies to the Tools4Schools store. Further details of this event will be announced soon.
For information about additional giving opportunities, including corporate sponsorships, contact WakeEd’s Director of Development Kristen Farrell at kfarrell@wakeed.org.
About WakeEd Partnership
WakeEd Partnership is an independent, nonprofit organization composed of business and community leaders committed to improving public education. Since 1983, the Partnership has advocated for excellent educational opportunities for all students in the Wake County Public School System. For more information, please visit www.wakeed.org.
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