When funding shortfall threatens school-supply drive, Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County rallies community to fill the gap--and backpacks--with needed items

“But would you let them pack your parachute?”

We all know trust is inherent in every partnership, but when it comes to considering its strength, this thought exercise is usually worth pondering.

After all, could there be a greater mix of exhilaration and uncertainty than the moment while skydiving before pulling the ripcord to release the parachute?

As a seasoned skydiver I can attest that it’s a welcome rush of both relief and adrenaline. Very different from experiencing—as I did recently—that free-fall feeling of facing important expectations amid an unwelcome surprise. 

In the waning days of summer before the start of the new school year, Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County (BGCMC) learned that fewer nonprofits were able to support the annual supply drive for Title 1 students—the designation granted to children of low-income families who qualify for federal assistance. Of the thousands of children who make up our membership, more than 600 meet this qualification.

Thankfully, we were able to call upon our business partners. Instead of packing parachutes they stuffed backpacks—600 of them, in fact—giving generously to ensure children in need received essential school supplies.

With the right partners, almost anything is possible. No matter the scope of need, the shortage of time or the uncertainty of success.

Special shout-outs to O’Donnell Impact Windows & Storm Protection, Patty D Photography, Capstone IT, Blazin Amazin Treatz, Hotwire Communications, Ignite Sports, and Guaranteed Garage Doors & Repair for helping equip the kids.

Such equipping takes on many forms. It started as early as last school year thanks to our AmeriCorps members. The mentors with this BGCMC program deploy into schools whose students most need assistance in literacy, math, and science. Last school year AmeriCorps members served:

• 530 elementary students, with 92 percent showing significant improvements on literacy assessments.
• 770 middle-school students, with 96 percent maintaining or increasing their attendance, 80 percent making notable progress in math and English and 85 percent improving their classroom behavior.
• Hundreds more students by involving them in community partnership efforts with the Red Cross, City of Stuart, Mattamy Homes at Newfield, SafeSpace, Operation Merry & Bright and local food programs.

While our AmeriCorps mentors invested their time, our supporters—ranging from retired philanthropists to small-business owners to community leaders to individuals like yourself—made it all possible through their treasure, time, and talent.

Thanks to you, they could start the first day of school feeling prepared, proud to reach in their new backpacks for that notebook their teacher asked them to open up. Whether you did so yourself or through your gift, you packed their parachutes, and made it possible for them to leap with boldness, savor the view, land safely—and look forward to doing it all over again.