CLERK & COMPTROLLER’S EMPLOYEES HELP STUDENTS START SCHOOL YEAR WITH NEW SUPPLIES

Donations include $1,400 in Walmart gift cards

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. (August 14, 2014) – Sending students to school with the supplies they need can be expensive for many Palm Beach County families, so employees from the Clerk & Comptroller’s office donated supplies and money to help underprivileged children in the community as they return to school on August 18.

Clerk’s employees filled more than 50 boxes with backpacks, notebooks, folders, crayons, pencils, paper and other much-needed supplies that they bought with their own money or with money raised within their departments through bake sales and other fundraisers.

Employees also contributed more than $1,400 by participating in special “Dress Down” days to allow them to dress casually in exchange for a charitable contribution. The money was used to buy Walmart gift cards to be used for school supplies and uniforms.

“We know how important it is for students to have the supplies they need to get an education. Our employees give what they can each year to ensure that children in our community are prepared,” Clerk Sharon Bock said. “Our annual school supply drive is just another way we show our commitment to the communities we serve. I’m proud of our employees for their generosity.”

Half of the donated supplies, including $710 in Walmart gift cards, were donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County. The rest of the supplies and $900 in Walmart gift cards were delivered to the West Area office of the School District of Palm Beach County for students in the Glades communities of western Palm Beach County.

The school supplies drive is part of the Clerk’s Charitable Giving Program, which includes community service, raising money for employee-selected nonprofit organizations through the Dress Down Friday program and supporting agencies such as the United Way of Palm Beach County.