Memphis, Tenn.– Alsco Memphis, a branch of Alsco Inc., recently donated funds along with school supplies to local Keystone Elementary School, which is located in a low-income area in Memphis, Tennessee. Keystone is a Title I, low-income-based school with approximately 600 students. Families often struggle to get needed supplies for their children to attend school; thus, donated school supplies deeply benefit students, parents, and most of the teachers who often purchase supplies for students out of their own pockets. In addition to school supplies, Alsco Memphis had applied for and received a non-profit gift/grant through the Steiner Foundation, initially created by Alsco in 1969 to allow Alsco branches to become involved in and have a way to help support various non-profit charities and projects in their local communities. The branch’s donated supplies will help stock the Cougar Store, located within the school, where students who earn “Cougar Bucks” for good behavior, outstanding academics, and attendance can trade their Cougar Bucks for desired supplies in the school store. “I have a vision of one of our Alsco vans pulling into the parking lot of Keystone Elementary filled with school supplies and items to stock the Cougar Store,” says General Manager Ronald Richards of the Alsco Memphis branch. In addition, one of the Alsco Memphis employees, Trudy Hunter, has been involved in outreach, providing tutoring, participating in clothing drives, and after-school activities. It was through this employee that a hope was born at the branch to directly help students who attended Keystone Elementary a way to get the tools they need to make learning easier and to experience a successful school year. Teachers at the school also are delighted about the Cougar Store receiving supplies, as it helps motivate their students to excel and be rewarded with Cougar Bucks to use at the store.
About Keystone Elementary School: Keystone is a Title I, low-income-based school with approximately 600 students that serves a low-income area of Memphis, Tennessee. Keystone Elementary School’s vision is to provide a high-quality education in a safe, supportive learning environment so students become lifelong learners, with the mission of improving academic achievement for all students through quality instruction by all stakeholders – teachers, faculty and parents. Keystone has received national recognition for its programs that foster outstanding academic achievement. Keystone’s Outdoor Classroom has earned national and local recognition, including being named a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. For more information, to volunteer, or to make a donation, visit http://www.scsk12.org/schools/keystone.es/site/index.shtml