It’s not your typical back-to-school shop – 23,000 pencils, books and lunchboxes – but for Logan student Samuel Glancy, it’s the culmination of his biggest fundraiser yet.
With mum Tanya’s help, 13-year-old Samuel drops collection boxes off to local businesses each December and puts the call out for donations of school supplies for students in need.
For Springwood MP Mick de Brenni, it’s the third year a Kids4Kids collection box greeted visitors to his office.
“Sam is remarkable – it’s as simple as that – and to be able to support him year-on-year alongside our community is a real privilege,” Mr de Brenni said.
“Kids4Kids has become a bit of an annual tradition in our office now, and there’s nothing better than getting to January and having a full box to hand back.
“Despite all the challenges of last year, our community continues to astound me with its generosity and support of Sam’s mission.
“When you see box after box emptied on sorting day, it really shows just how our community rallies around those less fortunate, because we all care about education and making sure Queensland kids are given the best start in life.”
This year’s Kids4Kids School Supply Drive Day was held at Calvary Christian College, where donations were sorted and counted.
Supplies were then given to chaplains at seven local schools, as well as a school in Vanuatu.
With this year’s efforts raising 28,309 supplies, Kids4Kids officially ticked over 100,000 items donated.
“I didn’t know there was a need,” mum Tanya said.
“When Sam first came up with the idea, I thought it was a lovely idea and it wasn’t until I spoke to the chaplains that there were many families that were doing without.
“We have helped people with cancer and dads out of work so we know of a few different stories of why people have ended up not being able to afford school supplies.”
For more information about Sam’s fundraising, visit his Facebook page.
