Making ‘Back to School’ Better with WWLF & Classroom Central

This week, the Charlotte chapter of the Women’s Wireless Leadership Forum (WWLF) hosted a school supply drive and networking event to benefit Classroom Central, a nonprofit that serves and provides free school supplies to 162,000 local students in 245 schools across six school districts. Classroom Central distributes supplies through its Free Store, Mobile Free Store, Curbside Pick-Up, Subscription Service and several other community-supported initiatives.

During the 2023-2024 school year, Classroom Central’s impact was formative.

• • • $10,581,019 in supplies were distributed (based on fair-market-retail value)
• 2,752,301 items distributed to students
• $663 average value of supplies per teacher visit

“54% of children in our community live below the poverty line and can’t afford the basic school supplies they need to learn,” explains Darden Blow, Director of Community Engagement, Classroom Central. “That means 1 in every 2 local students comes to school empty-handed.”

Teachers, in my opinion, are often overworked and underpaid. Many come out of pocket for supplies to provide the best possible experience for their students, while we rely on them to educate and guide our future generations.

Personally, my sister, Shannon, is a teacher at a Charlotte-Mecklenburg elementary school and my inspiration for partnering with Classroom Central for the second year in a row. I’ve watched in awe as she poured her heart and soul into teaching day in and day out for nearly a decade.

Thanks to everyone who came out to support this special cause, including our sponsors who made it all possible: Delta Oaks Group, Harmoni Towers, Inside Towers and Tower Engineering Professionals. And a special shout out to Communications Tower Group, which provided a generous monetary donation.

Donate to Classroom Central here. Whether you donate $25 to provide the top 9 supply items for one student for the first month of school, or $1,000 to provide multiple classrooms with supplies for the year, every penny counts.

WWLF is a volunteer association for professional women in the wireless communications industry. Through WWLF’s events, members share their expertise, broaden their contacts, and advance their career opportunities. Get involved here.

Until next year…