For more information about CIS volunteer opportunities, contact
Juanita Davis, Communities In Schools of NC (919) 832-2700 jdavis@cisnc.org

RALEIGH, N.C. - RALEIGH - On August 1st, WRAL in partnership with Communities In Schools (CIS) will launch the 1st annual “School Stuff” campaign to collect school supplies for students that do not have the necessary ‘tools’ for the upcoming school year.

For the entire month of August, WRAL and Communities In Schools are asking the public to drop-off ‘new’ school supplies including; notebook paper, pens/pencils, crayons, book bags, folders, binders, and any other items that will help prepare a child for the school year. Collection barrels will be located at participating Golden Corral, Alltel, and Colony Homes locations.

“Many of us who now have our own children and grandchildren can remember how exciting it was when we were kids and mom took us shopping for new school supplies in preparation for the impending school year. Today, the cost of those school supplies can approach $75-100 per child, and many families across our great state cannot afford these costs. Accordingly, I encourage every North Carolina citizen who has the means to spend a few extra dollars this August to buy school supplies for children in need of them. Thanks to WRAL-TV, to all of our local sponsors and to those who will give of their time and money, many children in our viewing area will be going back to school this year with new “School Stuff,” said Mike Stephens, Executive Director of Communities In Schools of North Carolina.

On Monday, July 30th, WRAL will host a kick-off breakfast at the WRAL studios for CIS coordinators from a 9-county area, CIS community volunteers, and community partners Golden Corral, Alltel, and Colony Homes to celebrate the launch of this campaign. The campaign goal for this year is to serve 5,000 students in need of school supplies across the WRAL viewing area.

WRAL viewers can expect to see public service announcements encouraging viewers to donate school supplies along with weekly news stories charting the progress of the “School Stuff” collection efforts. “As a station, our ongoing “For the Children” campaign focuses viewers’ attention on issues affecting the lives of children. The “School Stuff” project gives us a chance to directly respond to the educational needs of children, and help provide students with a healthy start,” said Jim Griffin, WRAL-TV Station Manager.

WRAL-TV5 and Communities In Schools of NC thanks its community partners at Alltel, Golden Corral and Colony Homes for their support of this project. Also, special thanks extended to Metro Productions, Waste Industries, and Office Depot for their in-kind support.

About Communities In Schools:
Communities In Schools connects needed community resources with schools to help students stay in school, learn needed skills and prepare to become productive citizens. Last year, just under 46,000 North Carolina students and family members benefited from CIS programs, which include mentoring, health care and prevention programs, internships, after school programs and community service. Ninety-five percent of North Carolina’s CIS students stayed in school last year aiding in the reduction of school drop out rates for the state.