DENVER (July 18, 2016) – Larry H. Miller Dealerships in Colorado is again joining with Denver’s 9NEWS and the Volunteers of America Colorado Branch (VOA) to support the 15th Annual “Stuff for Students” school supply drive. Donations collected will be distributed to more than 15 Colorado school districts based on the percentage of free/reduced lunch students.
“Helping to provide students with the basic materials they need for success in the classroom is a good way to get the new school year off to a great start,” said Ray Reilly, senior vice president of operations, Larry H. Miller Dealerships. “Giving back in the communities where we do business has always been a guiding principle of Larry H. Miller Dealerships and we’re excited to continue our support of the ‘Stuff for Students’ campaign.”
From August 1-31, “Stuff for Students” collection bins will be located in Boulder at Larry H. Miller Toyota, in Lakewood at Larry H. Miller Volkswagen and Larry H. Miller Ford, in Highlands Ranch at Larry H. Miller Nissan, in Thornton at Larry H. Miller Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram 104th, in Federal Heights at Larry H. Miller RAM Truck Center, in Aurora at Larry H. Miller Colorado Chrysler Jeep, in Denver at Larry H. Miller Dodge Ram Cherry Creek and Larry H. Miller FIAT Denver, and in Littleton at Larry H. Miller Nissan Southwest. Please visit www.lhmauto.com for store addresses.
School supplies needed for students include backpacks, pens and pencils, filler paper, two-pocket folders and spiral notebooks, crayons and colored markers, glue sticks, scissors, rulers and protractors/compasses, composition books and watercolor sketch pads. VOA will sort and distribute the contributed items. Monetary donations to purchase additional school supplies are also being accepted by VOA at www.voacolorado.org/news_and_events/stuff-for-students.
The cost of basic school supplies continues to increase every year and based on a national survey, is estimated to be in excess of $190 for each child in elementary school, approximately $315 for a student in middle school, and more than $350 for a youth in high school. Also impacting community need are the financial hardships already faced by low-income families. Between the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 school years, the number of homeless students in Denver County increased by 41 percent, or approximately 924 students—an unprecedented jump.
“Unfortunately, many Colorado schools continue to face budget cuts while the number of children living in poverty in the state increases,” said Bradley Gulley, VOA director of volunteer programs. “Thanks to donations from Larry H. Miller Dealerships and their customers, we will be able to provide more students with the basic supplies they need in the classroom. These contributions will make a real difference in the communities we serve.”
Volunteers of America Colorado Branch works directly with the school districts to distribute the “Stuff for Students” supplies, including Adams 12, Adams 14, Adams 50 (Westminster), Aurora Public Schools, Boulder Valley & St. Vrain School Districts, Brighton Public Schools, Cherry Creek Public Schools, Denver Public Schools, Douglas County Schools, Elizabeth Public Schools, Englewood Public Schools, Jefferson Public Schools, Littleton Public Schools, Sheridan Public Schools and Colorado Springs School District 11.
In addition to participating in “Stuff for Students,” employees of Larry H. Miller Dealerships are active volunteers in their local communities. Beneficiaries of their assistance include Carpenter Park, Thornton; DeLaney Community Farm, Aurora; Family Tree, Karlis Family Center, Lakewood; There with Care, Boulder; and the Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado, Colorado Springs. Larry H. Miller Dealerships has a strong legacy of giving back to communities where it does business. Through its charitable organization, Larry H. Miller Charities, more than $400,000 has been donated to qualified nonprofit organizations throughout Colorado since 1996.
