Pens, pencils, paper, backpacks, and thousands of other supplies lined the otherwise empty board room on August 29, ready for the students of Carter G. Woodson Middle and Hopewell High School, a week before the first bell was set to ring for school on September 5th.
Johnny Partin, Chairman of Keep Hopewell Beautiful, has helped organize a school supply drive for HCPS for the past few years, and is continually impressed by the generosity of the city.
“This year we wanted to help the teachers have the supplies that they need in order to be successful in the classroom. On average, a teacher will spend over $500 of their after tax income on classroom supplies,” Partin said in a statement. “This is a lot of money for most teachers, and we wanted to ease the financial burden on as many teachers as possible.”
The goal for this year’s drive was $6,000 in supplies for the middle and high school, with this being the first year the donations were centered towards the secondary students. Partin said the year’s prior were geared toward the elementary schools and he, along with other members of the community, wanted to give back to the upperclassman.
The goal was exceed as the donations brought in totaled $7,800. The donations were brought in and organized by several churches, nonprofits, civic organizations and businesses.
When Superintendent Dr. Melody Hackney walked into the board room on that Tuesday evening in August, she stood in silence, with a wide smile, overcome with joy at the donations that filled the room in boxes and bags, and every nook and cranny in between.
“Yet again, our community has blown me away with their kindness, compassion and generosity. I am overwhelmed in response to the huge donations of school supplies made by our local churches. We are so blessed. I have worked in other areas of the state and I have never experienced anything quite like what we have in Hopewell,” Dr. Hackney said in a statement.
Those who donated from the faith community included the Family of God Church, Woodlawn Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian Church, St. John’s Episcopal Church, First Christian Church, Liberty Baptist Church, and Charity Korean American Baptist Church.
Other donations were gifted by Custom Embroidery and Design, John Randolph Foundation, Hopewell SunTrust Bank, Partin Preferred Properties LLC, VFW Post 637, Partin Oil Company, and Riley Ingram for Delegate.
“I am never ceased to be amazed of the generosity that our citizenry, churches, civic organizations, nonprofits, and businesses continually exhibit,” he said. “I am so glad to be a part of this wonderful community.”
Like Partin, Dr. Hackney remains in awe of the giving nature of those in the community and their continued commitment to the children of Hopewell. It is unlike anything she has seen in other localities where she has served previously.
“Our special city is absolutely overflowing with loving citizens dedicated to ensuring each and every HCPS child is equipped with whatever he or she needs as they start school. And unique to this year, one of our local churches reached out to schools and specifically asked teachers what they needed and could use in their classrooms,” Dr. Hackney said. “I honestly don't know how to adequately thank these wonderful people. They are truly angels to us.”