Pencil in July 11 to help Classroom Central

Classroom Central, a nonprofit that collects and distributes free school supplies for students living in poverty, is also where teachers can go to pick up free supplies for their classrooms that aren't provided by schools so the teachers don't have to dip into their own pockets to pay for what they need. 

On July 11, the nonprofit is hosting its first office supply drive geared toward uptown workers. From 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. July 11, companies who want to participate can clear out any surplus office supplies and bring donations to a school bus that will be at Trade and Tryon streets. Wish list items include pens, pencils, copy paper, Post-it notes, binders and outdated logo items. 

A word of caution from me, though: Please don't "shop" your company's supply closet without permission. If your company is extra frugal and doesn't want to make a large donation, then you and your colleagues can always purchase supplies and donate them.

From 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. during some photo ops for the media, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Heath Morrison is scheduled to be there along with Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Cannon and Charlotte Center City Partner CEO Michael Smith.

For more details about the nonprofit and its mission, go to www.classroomcentral.org. 

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