School Supplies Begin Journey to Texas

Published September 22, 2017

On Monday, September 25, more than 6,000 backpacks filled with school supplies will begin the journey to Houston, Texas.

Once they arrive, the supplies will be distributed to students who’ve been affected by the flooding and damage caused by Hurricane Harvey. The “Tennessee Volunteers for Texas” campaign began as a joint effort between the Williamson County Government, Williamson County Schools, Franklin Special School District and the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, however the movement spread with school districts from across the state pitching in to help.

For several weeks, schools across the county collected donated items like backpacks, pencils and paper for students in the Houston Independent School District. The Ag Expo Center was also used as a collection site for supplies. Members of Berry’s Chapel Church of Christ and Grace Chapel Church volunteered their time to work alongside representatives from the Sheriff’s Office and the Ag Expo Park to collect and sort the donations.

When the trucks leave Franklin Monday, they will contain 6,448 backpacks stuffed with school supplies and five crates of teacher supplies.

“It has been incredible to witness such generosity and support from not only our community, but from families across the state,” said Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney. “The amount of donations surpassed our wildest expectations and we could not be more grateful to all of the people who donated their time and their money to help out this great cause.”