By now, you may be familiar with ZSR’s Book Drive and Welcome! Back to School event supporting Anderson Academy (at Crossnore). However, you may be curious about the latest results and next big components of the project. As a reminder, the Welcome! Back to School Campaign is supported by the ZSR Innovation & Opportunity Grant, Center for Literacy Education’s Books Grant, and ZSR employees and friends.

Book Drive Results Update

Although our goal was to round up 500 books for Anderson Academy kindergarten through 4th grade classroom libraries, the project has collected (drumroll…) 2,267 books and $1,175 – WOW! This accomplishment equates to over 220 books per classroom and exceeds the International Literacy Association’s recommendation of 20 books per student in school libraries to help support literacy skills development.

Since the book drive was so successful, a portion of ZSR Innovation funds can now be utilized to purchase student supplies. Not only will classroom libraries be stocked on the first day of classes, each new Anderson Academy student will receive the following items:

• Backpack with a handwritten note of encouragement from the ZSR Ambassadors
• Nametags, keychains, buttons, and stickers for backpack personalization
• Supply packs containing a composition book, markers (10-pk), crayons (24-pk), a pencil case, glue sticks, pencils, and a pencil sharpener
• Snack packs containing healthy sweet and savory treats

Welcome! Back to School Party

Students will choose their backpack, supply pack, and other goodies at the Anderson Academy Open House event on Thursday, August 7 from 4 – 6pm. ZSR will be tabling with backpack decorating and supply and snack pick up stations at the Crossnore Miracle Heights Pavilion. A call for volunteers will be made at the end of June for helping hands at this event.

Thanks to all the internal and external partners supporting this project. We couldn’t do it without you!