SROs Deliver School Supplies for Kids

A convoy of School Resource Officers (SROs) arrived at the Buncombe County Schools Central Office on Wednesday. Each of the patrol cars – and one cargo van – practically overflowed with school supplies from generous individual donors throughout Buncombe County.

By Tim Reaves
BCS Communications Department

A convoy of School Resource Officers (SROs) arrived at the Buncombe County Schools Central Office on Wednesday. Each of the patrol cars – and one cargo van – practically overflowed with school supplies from generous individual donors throughout Buncombe County.

Earlier this summer the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) SRO Division ran a school supply drive to benefit the Black Mountain Home for Children, Youth & Families, along with the BCS Title I program. Dep. Jared Porshia, an SRO at three Erwin District elementary schools, said SROs wanted to strengthen community ties and connect donors to programs that can get the supplies to children as they start school.

“We really want to make an impact in our community,” he said. “And if this makes a difference for even one kid, it’s worth it.”

Leveraging their strong relationship with the Walmart Supercenter on Hendersonville Road, SROs were able to park a school bus in front of the store and run the supply drive on July 30 and 31. During that short period, they received enough donations to fill the bus from floor to ceiling.

“The community really let us know that they’re here for us and that they want to see students succeed,” Dep. Porshia said. “It’s been a stressful time for everyone, but these supplies will help students have what they need to have a stable start to the year.”

The SROs delivered 180 bookbags to the Black Mountain Home on Wednesday, along with lots of other supplies. Later that day, they filled a room at the BCS Central Office with pencils, bookbags, tissues, crayons, school glue, folders, notebooks, and more.

The BCS Title I Department has been reaching out to school counselors to help distribute these resources.

“We’re so thankful to the SROs for putting this supply drive together to help the kids,” said Title I Compliance Specialist Teresa Kagley. “It’s really going to help our kids start strong.”

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