OLDS — An annual drive by the Staples store in Olds to raise money for back to school supplies for needy students crushed expectations, says Graham Gordon, Staples divisional sales manager and a main driver of the campaign.
The campaign, which began this summer and ended Sept. 23, raised $9,130.
Store employees managed to add to those dollars via promotions and other activities for a total of about $15,000.
A barbecue held during the campaign raised about $1,500 as well.
"We set an exceptionally high goal of $10,000. It was well above what the expectation was from Staples,” Gordon said during an interview with the Albertan.
“(They were) kind of expecting in around, you know, like 2 or $3,000. But we just absolutely blew that out of the water, so I'm super happy about that,” he added. “Last year we were at $6,100.”
“I'm just blown away by the generosity of the community here in Olds,” Gordon said.
“We ended up third in the West among all the Staples stores in terms of the expectation and what we reached.”
Gordon said 47 backpacks filled with supplies went to BGC of Olds & Area (the local Boys and Girls Club).
Several schools, including Cremona School, received backpacks and supplies as well.
Holy Trinity Catholic School was among those that received supplies which including a Chromebook.
Gordon said money raised also went toward obtaining a Chromebook for École the Deer Meadow School for the spelling bee.
École Olds High School and Sundre High School obtained graphing calculators.
“Calculators are a bigger and bigger need,” Gordon said. “If a child shows up to school and they're like, 'I don't have a graphing calculator,’ then they're able to use it, because, I mean they're they're $100 and $170 items.
“So then they're not going to fall behind. They're going to be on a little bit more of an even playing field.”
Gordon is pleased that this year’s drive was so successful.
“Just knowing the need in the community and seeing people come to the store with their long lists for schools, it's been -- I don't know -- it just starts getting to be a passion that you have, and I've just been happy to help out the community at such a fundamental level,” he said.
