It’s easy to take school supplies for granted. Every year, families scramble for markers, crayons, loose-leaf paper, folders, backpacks, Kleenex and more — then bag it up and send it at the start of a new year.
But not every family has the means to do so. What looks like a simple set of goods — often found in massive, wholesale bins at stores — quickly tallies up to the same price of three cheap family meals for a week or an overdue water bill.
T-Mobile of Nashville, the nationwide communications company, recognized this probability — and two weeks ago contacted officials at Christian County Public Schools to see how they could help.
On Wednesday, T-Mobile representatives rolled up to Pembroke Elementary in a pink-and-white van with more than $2,500 in supplies, in what could be a lift when it’s most needed.
Brandon Carlin, community engagement manager for T-Mobile of Nashville, said students, educators, military families and first responders are just some of the main priorities for impact when looking to give back to people.
Carlin made most of his contact through John Rittenhouse, district spokesman, during the past two weeks.
So when teachers and resource officers returned with their biggest needs — headphones for Chromebooks, wide-ruled notebooks, and more — Rittenhouse turned over the wish list.
And T-Mobile delivered.
Laura Morris, Christian County assistant superintendent, said that a donation of this magnitude could very easily help more than 250-to-300 students and teachers district-wide for the school year.
It helps the family resource centers, too, who are trying to determine how to best meet family needs.
Tara Tolliver, South Christian Elementary Family Resource Coordinator, added that donations like this allow her to shift financial assistance elsewhere.
Rittenhouse said the donations will benefit Pembroke, Freedom, Martin Luther King, South Christian and Indian Hills elementary schools.
