- April 16, 2024
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With the start of school, the Flagler County Education Foundation’s S.T.U.F.F. Bus has already been inundated with requests from teachers and guidance counselors for classroom supplies and support for students in need.
Thanks to generous donations from the Flagler County community, these requests will be a little easier to fill.
Flagler County Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston handed in a donation this week of $10,025 to the Education Foundation for use with its S.T.U.F.F. Bus program. The money was raised by staff members at the Tax Collector’s Office as part of a drive to get the community involved and aware of the program.
The drive started in mid-July, and after just 10 days of collecting donations, the staff had raised $2,539. At that time, Johnston said the secret to filling the donation jars is to simply ask and the goal was to keep collecting.
Although the Tax Collector’s Office facilitated the drive, Johnston stressed that the donations really came from the people of Flagler County.
“For her, it’s an easy sell because everyone understands the importance of children coming to school ready to learn,” said Deborah Williams, executive director of the foundation.
At $25 per student for socks, shoes, underwear and school supplies, the gift of $10,000 will provide for 400 children.
“With more than 7,000 children in Flagler Schools eligible for free and reduced lunch, the need is great,” Williams said. “Thanks to a caring and generous community, Flagler County Education Foundation is able to assist the students with greatest need.”
In years past, the S.T.U.F.F. Bus wasn’t always a focus of the foundation, but with the downfall of the economy, it, along with other need-based support programs, are switching to the forefront.
“Suzanne has become one of the best fundraisers for our foundation,” said Jay Gardner, president of the foundation’s Board of Directors. “She’s amazing. It beat all of our expectations.”
The same day that the donations collected at the Tax Collector’s Office were turned over, the bus also made a stop at Publix, in Town Center. There, Manager Caryn Pryor loaded the bus with two shopping carts full of school supplies that had been purchased and donated by store patrons throughout Flagler County stores.
“It’s all about what the community has done,” Williams said.
Other individuals and organizations that have given generously to the S.T.U.F.F. bus are American Association of University Women; Brian and Jackie Unger; Bright House Networks; Dorne, Rockey, Secunda and Magee P.A.; Flagler County Association of Realtors; Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates; Flagler Home Builders Association; Flagler/Palm Coast Kiwanis Club; Florida Power and Light; Grand Haven Women's Club; HALIFOXES; Intracoastal Bank; Jewish Federation of Volusia/Flagler Counties; Jimmie Johnson Foundation; Kohl’s; Leighton-Oare Foundation; Marine Corps League Flagler County 876; Maudlin International; Palm Coast Data; Palm Coast Woman’s Club; U-Name It; United Way of Volusia-Flagler and Wells Fargo.
