Thousands of local students are benefiting from over $105,000 of school supplies donated by Inland Empire United Way.

Over the past week, thirteen local schools received deliveries of supplies from the organization's School Tools program, which exists to ensure that more children in our community have the supplies they need to learn and to succeed in school.

Last Friday, IEUW's "School Tools on Wheels" deliveries began at Doris Dickson Elementary School in Chino, and then continued on to six Pomona schools: Simons Middle School, Madison Elementary, San Antonio Elementary, San Jose Elementary, Barfield Elementary School, and Kingsley Elementary. This Monday, School Tools on Wheels delivered pallets of school supplies first to Clement Middle School in Redlands, followed by stops in Fontana including North Tamarind Elementary, Cypress Elementary, Randall‐Pepper Elementary, Date Elementary and West Randall Elementary.

All thirteen of the schools were carefully selected by IEUW's Community Impact Advisory Council, based on need and geographic location. To be considered, all schools must have a minimum of 70% of their students enrolled in the federal free and reduced meal program and be located in IEUW's service region. All supplies are brand‐new, donated products that can be used in the classroom or given to students in need to take home.

With increasing pressure on local schools to control costs and maintain quality instruction, the School Tools donations were enthusiastically welcomed by teachers, administrators and students. "More than half of the students in our region are enrolled in the free and reduced meal program. If these students can't afford lunch, it's unlikely that their families can afford the supplies they need to learn and succeed in school," said Gregory Bradbard, President & CEO of Inland Empire United Way.

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