DENVER – Larry H. Miller Dealerships in Colorado is joining with Denver’s 9NEWS and the Volunteers of America (VOA) for the 14th Annual “Stuff for Students” school supply drive. From August 1-31, the seven Larry H. Miller dealership locations statewide will be collecting essential school supply items, including backpacks, pens and pencils, filler paper, two-pocket folders and spiral notebooks, crayons and colored markers, glue sticks, scissors, rulers and protractors/compasses, and composition books. VOA will sort the donated supplies and distribute them to more than 15 Colorado school districts based on the percentage of free/reduced lunch students.
“We’ve made it our mission to enrich the lives of our customers, employees and communities,” said Ray Reilly, senior vice president of operations, Larry H. Miller Dealerships. “Providing children with the tools they need to start the school year off right through the ’Stuff for Students’ program is an example of this commitment.”
“Stuff for Students” collection bins will be located in Boulder at Larry H. Miller Toyota, in Colorado Springs at Larry H. Miller Liberty Toyota and Larry H. Miller Toyota, in Lakewood at Larry H. Miller Volkswagen and Larry H. Miller Ford, in Highlands Ranch at Larry H. Miller Nissan, and in Thornton at Larry H. Miller Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram 104th. For store locations, please visit www.lhmauto.com. In addition, VOA is accepting monetary donations at www.voacolorado.org/news_and_events/stuff-for-students to purchase additional school supplies following the drive.
The cost for basic school supplies for one student each year is $161.27 for elementary school, $198 for middle school and $893 for high school students. According to Denver Public Schools, there are more than 2,000 homeless students in Denver along with more than 60,000 on free and reduced lunches.
“With Colorado schools facing unprecedented budget cuts and the number of Colorado children living in poverty continuing to grow, more and more students are starting school without the necessary tools to succeed,” said Bradley Gulley, VOA director of volunteer programs. “Having Larry H. Miller Dealerships as a partner this year is a huge blessing. We will be able to reach out to more school districts and will collect a greater amount of supplies to help additional students. Supporting our local students makes our communities stronger.”
Volunteers of America 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.
