Several Montgomery County Public Schools have joined with Learn Shop Inc. in this first of its kind "Drive For Locker Supplies" in the United States of America Beginning in June 1999 school supplies were collected by the several Montgomery County Middle Schools at their year end clean out. This "Drive For Locker Supplies" is the first of it’s kind in any public school system . This idea could and will be duplicated by other schools across the U. S. A. . Wheaton High and four other Middle Schools are Lee, Julius West, Montgomery Village, and Gaithersburg. The purpose of this campaign is to help the economically challenged in Montgomery County as well as in other countries . The Benefits of the "Drive For Supplies" collection are as follows:

1. The collected pens, pencils, rulers, clean paper, binders, book bags, etc. will assist those in need by providing the physical tools of learning .
2. The diversion of massive quantities of usable school supplies from the sanitation system will reduce the schools disposal costs . Every year at this time there is a jump in the schools disposal costs as hundreds of tons of paper, pens and pencils are either buried or burned.
3. The Environment will be better with less garbage disposed . Massive amounts of trash will still be discarded, but resources for impoverished children in other areas and other nations will be saved .
4. This project will give participating students a volume of experience in people and materials management as they fill a real need in the world community . Perhaps a more fuller appreciation of the challenges other students face in differing parts of the globe and how we can make a difference as we work together. Our most important asset as a people is team work. People need to be needed. This kind of materials management is a necessary skill for home, local and world economics.
5. This could well become a practice duplicated by other school districts across the United States . Instead of casting off clean paper with the used or good pens and pencils with the expended ; students will edit their supplies before they take a trip to the trash can . This has begun with the Montgomery County Public Schools in June 1999 . In the year 2000 other schools across the United States will be encouraged to do the same.
   

The Drive For Supplies began as a way of getting donations to the Kosovo Refugees at Fort Dix ,New Jersey . The results were very positive and several van loads of supplies were delivered. In the Spring of 2000 this effort will be expanded to involve more students to collect from more schools. With more students donating their supplies we will deliver more to other countries. As we manage resources in a more efficient manner we can assist many more children all around the globe. We invite you to learn of the other programs sponsored by Learn Shop Inc. that involve recycling at: www.learnshop.org

To make a donation online to Learnshop, Please click here.