Project 58: School Supplies Needed - Charlotte, NC

Partnering for the first time with Classroom Central on their Backpacks & Basics program, Mite will restock local Charlotte students' backpacks with essential school supplies for their second semester, ensuring they finish the school year with everything they need for success.

Since 2002, Classroom Central has been serving students and teachers in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, reaching 162,000+ students across 227 schools. They aim to foster equity in education by providing teachers and students with the free resources they need to succeed.

More than half of the students in the region (where Mite is based) come from families that can't afford lunch, let alone school supplies. Moved by these needs, many teachers spend $500 – $1k annually out of their own pocket on their students. Upon discovering this fact, Classroom Central was founded to bridge the expense gap so that students and teachers could focus on education rather than financial concerns and lack of supplies.

Semester 1 of the 2023/24 academic year has already been taken care of; however, semester 2 remains outstanding. Many students rely on this assistance so they have the tools to stay in school. So Mite is stepping in to raise funds for Classroom Central's Backpacks & Basics program and recruiting local volunteers to help assemble the school supply kits. This community effort celebrates equity in education while supporting educators and students with daily essentials to aid their learning.