Superior Bank Works to Keep Students Supplied Throughout the Year

Steve Monk, manager of one of the Birmingham, Ala.-based bank’s two branches in Tallahassee, says items collected in each of the Florida branches are given directly to the school district where the branch is located. Tools for SchoolSuperior Bank works to keep students supplied throughout the yearBy Rosanne Dunkelberger

You can count on people to give generously each August to ensure that every student has supplies in hand for a fresh start on the school year. But as the weeks go by, pencils become nubs, pens dry out, Duo-Tangs rip and notepaper gets used up as youngsters diligently apply themselves to schoolwork.

After the back-to-school hoopla has died down, it becomes more of a challenge to make sure every student has something to write with and something to write on.

For that reason, Superior Bank has set up bins to collect school supplies throughout the year in its 11 branches located in the Northwest Florida cities of Tallahassee, Panama City, Marianna, Bristol, Blountstown, Altha, Port St. Joe, Mexico Beach, Apalachicola and Carrabelle. Steve Monk, manager of one of the Birmingham, Ala.-based bank’s two branches in Tallahassee, says items collected in each of the Florida branches are given directly to the school district where the branch is located. The company plans to maintain the displays throughout the year and hopes to expand its efforts next year to help with supplies for teachers too, he says.

After the drive’s initial success, Superior is considering providing the public service in all of its 76 branches in Alabama and Florida.

“There’s real intention that they roll it out everywhere,” Monk says.

Most-needed supplies include consumables such as notebooks, report folders, glue and facial tissues. There also is a need for scissors, calculators and combination locks.

“Just think what you would send your child to school with,” says Rainey Smallridge, of Leon County Schools, which benefits from the collections made at the bank’s Tallahassee branches. “We are always grateful for any supplies because there is always a child in need.”

You can bring these suggested supplies to any Northwest Florida branch of Superior Bank. Just look for the collection boxes, which have been decorated by local students.

Backpacks (not rolling)

8-count Crayola crayons

24-count Crayola crayons

Crayola markers

Colored pencils

Composition books (wide-ruled, not spiral)

Divider tabs

Hand sanitizer

Glue (Elmer’s School)

Glue sticks

Highlighters

Facial tissue

Notebook paper

Notebooks (wide-ruled, single subject spiral)

Pencils (jumbo)

Pencils (No. 2 with erasers)

Pens (blue, black or red)

Pocket folders

Rest mats

Scientific calculators (TI-30 XA)

Scissors (Fiskars blunt and regular tip)

Ziploc bags (quart or gallon)

3-ring binders (2-inch rings)

3 ring notebooks with subject dividers