$200K worth of supplies distributed to Palm Beach County schools

Riviera Beach, Fla. – Hundreds of Palm Beach County students will receive free, new school supplies next week for the school’s annual Tools for Schools program.

For the 20th year, Red apple supplyThe Education Foundation of Palm Beach Countya free teacher resource store, partnered with Publix Super Markets to distribute more than $201,000 in essential school supplies to teachers in 120 Title I district schools.

Teachers and principals headed to the Red Apple Supply Store in Riviera Beach at 8 a.m. to get supplies from volunteers, forming a line long enough to wrap around the building and continue down the street.

Volunteers filled cars with supplies while others handed out hot chocolate and sweets.

Education Foundation Chairman Jim Moore also served as a disc jockey for the event while a barbershop stall drove drivers while they waited for supplies. Santa Claus also visited the event.

Palm Beach County Superintendent Michael Burke said the event is especially needed for the district’s one in five students at the poverty level.

“To make sure kids have the supplies they need to be in the classroom,” Burke said.

Dwayne Dennard, principal of Pahokee Middle and High Schools, echoed Burke’s words, stressing the need for supplies.

Dennard said 99% of students at his two schools are on the free or reduced meal program, which represents significant financial need.

“Without these supplies, many of our children would not reach their full potential,” Dennard said. “There are some kids that we lost because we didn’t have that kind of supply. It’s a great opportunity for parents and students with the way inflation is now.”

The supplies distributed ranged from notebooks to headphones and more.

Burke said the supplies will be distributed to students at the school next week.