For the sixth year, the School Supplies for Students Drive responded to a strong need from the community and made the start of the school year a little easier for thousands of students.

The School Supplies for Students Drive collected nearly 51,000 items for 7,000 students in preschool through 12th grade – the largest amount ever collected and distributed by the drive.

The drive is organized by the Volunteer & Community Resource Center (VCRC), a program of United Way of Martin County.

Schools received the supplies on Aug. 7-8 so that the students would have their items on the first day of school, Aug. 9. Students who qualify for the free and reduced-price lunch program receive the school supplies. Last year, the drive raised about 40,000 items for 7,000 students.

In addition to all Martin County public schools, supplies will go to youngsters at Hope Rural School, Dunbar Center, Gertrude Walden Child Care Center, Head Start, United for Families and Caring Children/Clothing Children (4-Cs).

"Monetary donations really helped this year in supplementing the supplies people provided," said Anne Lalley, project coordinator. "And we certainly could not have done it without the help of Seacoast National Bank's sponsorship."

In addition to Seacoast, other groups, businesses and individuals helped make the drive a success in so many ways. For example:

• Coast 101.3 FM held a “Stuff the Van” promotion, asking its sponsors and listeners to fill the radio station’s van with school supplies.

• Employees at Martin County governmental offices, such as the Property Appraiser’s Office and the Tax Collector’s Office, collected supplies and raised funds by holding dress-down days and other promotions.

• The Stuart Sunrise Rotary Club dropped off supplies almost daily from members.

• Pratt & Whitney employees held a pencil drive, collecting nearly 20,000 pencils for Martin County.

Of course, volunteers are a key component of the drive. This year, volunteers devoted more than 200 hours to collecting, sorting, counting, boxing and delivering supplies.

Seacoast National Bank employees held a volunteer day on July 29 to help box up and deliver supplies. In addition, Ms. Lalley praised her “A-Team” of volunteers who pitched in regularly to handle the steady stream of supplies: Kelly Stiller and Christine Murphy from The Medalist; Erik Schineis and Megan Zolman from Martin County High School; Michelle Cullum of South Fork High School; and Linda Werner, a community volunteer from the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.

“These volunteers work hard under very hot conditions at the Martin County Fairgrounds and do a terrific job,” Ms. Lalley said.

Information about the School Supplies Drive and all VCRC projects is available at www.martinvolunteers.org.