CLERMONT COUNTY, Ohio (Dec. 6, 2021) — School supplies are essential for young students to be successful learners. Unfortunately, purchasing such supplies poses a financial burden for many families. 

But thanks to a team effort by Procter & Gamble and United Way, in October 400 school supply kits were delivered to students who attend Clermont Educational Collaborative (CEC) schools. CEC North and CEC South are grades K-12 schools operated by the Clermont County Educational Service Center. The schools serve the nine school districts in Clermont County as well as a few in neighboring counties. 

 About 80% of students in CEC programs qualify for free or reduced lunch, so they typically have greater needs than most students. What’s more, a number of CEC students have special needs such as emotional disorders and autism spectrum disorders.

Members of P&G’s research & development team worked with United Way on the volunteer in-house assembly project as part of P&G Give Back Day. Each school supply kit included a drawstring bag with more than a dozen items inside, including pencils, erasers, folder, notebook, note pad, pencil pouch, pencil sharpener, glue stick, dry-erase markers and a handwritten notecard with words of encouragement. P&G employees also assembled 16 teacher/classroom kits, which consisted of scissors, crayons, markers, ruled filler paper and tissues.

 Young students expressed their gratitude for the donations in letters to P&G. A student who attends CEC-South in Owensville said it well: 

"Thank you for all the paper, as I draw a lot. Thank you for all the erasers, as I make a lot of mistakes. Thank you for the pencils, because we do a lot of writing..." 

 Sincerely,  

 Hunter