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For the fourth consecutive year, Aiken Electric Cooperative hosted United Way of Aiken County’s School Tools program August 10 and 11. Numerous palettes of supplies have been accumulating in the Aiken Electric warehouse before being moved to the community room for sorting and distribution this week.

Over 12,000 students attending Aiken County’s 40 schools and learning institutes were identified for the program. Thousands of pencils, pens, erasers, glue sticks and loose leaf paper were sorted by volunteers and given to teachers for students who may need a little assistance for their school supplies this year.

“Aiken Electric Cooperative has the perfect set-up for us,” says United Way of Aiken County’s Director of Marketing, Candis Moyer. “They are able to store these supplies donated by local businesses and then house them for distribution in their community room. On pick-up day, school representatives can just park right next to the building and we can load them down with supplies.”

United Way Board Chair, Bill Inman commented on the traditional hosting at Aiken Electric Cooperative. “We are pleased to support this effort each year. Now more than ever, this program helps students that may not have the resources to start the year with new supplies.”

United Way of Aiken County has been coordinating School Tools for the past eight years. Championed by Moyer, the School Tools committee of ten is populated by area business representatives. Planning for the event takes months and the sorting and distribution is always done in early August before the school term begins. In addition to their internal “Tools” drive, Aiken’s Publix supplied manpower, storage boxes and roll carts for the volunteers to move and organize supplies.

The cooperative also recycled the boxes that were left over from the event through their corporate recycling program.

United Way of Aiken County’s Marketing Director Candis Moyer, Communications Committee volunteer Bridget Sanito and President/CEO Sharon Rodgers organize this year’s ‘School Tools’ program at Aiken Electric Cooperative.