After surpassing the previous year’s goal last summer, the Moore Chamber of Commerce’s annual school supply drive, “Fill the Bus,” easily flew by last year’s total donations and collected more than 4,243 pieces – a value over of $9,200 – which will be donated to Moore Public Schools to help teachers offset personal costs of school supplies throughout the year.

With a combination of supplies and monetary donations, the Moore Chamber will be able to provide supplies to 30 Moore schools (last year it was 20) including 20 elementary schools, all six junior high schools, all three senior high schools, Vista Academy, and Moore Family Youth Services. Each school received approximately $400 worth of supplies. A group of Moore Chamber volunteers will be meeting at the Chamber at 305 W Main in Moore on Monday, Aug. 29, at 7:15 a.m. to distribute the supplies to all the schools. Media are invited for photo opportunity.

“This year has really blown us away with all the generous donations and support we have received,” said Kim Brown, President/CEO of Moore Chamber. “We are proud of our Chamber members and the community coming together to help support our local schools and teachers and to make an impact on our children’s education.”

Fill the Bus committee co-chairs this year were Jennifer Seals, Integrity Inventory Solutions, and Katelyn Dockery, Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.

“Jennifer and Katelyn work tirelessly and passionately for the program,” Brown said. “It really does take a village to get to where the program is today, and it’s all because of the tremendous leadership of our Fill the Bus leaders and volunteers.”

The Presenting Sponsor for Fill the Bus is once again First Fidelity Bank, who has been serving as the Fill the Bus presenting sponsor since 2018.

Additional 2022 Fill the Bus sponsors are:

Superintendent – Julie Cook Allstate, Thurman Lynch Allstate, ARIA Real Estate Group, Armstrong Bank, Center Sphere, Eaton Business Solutions, Eide Bailly, First United Bank, Integrity Inventory Solutions, Moore Funeral & Cremation, and Red Star Consulting

Principal – ACE Party Supplies & Showtime Concession, Great Plains Bank, Green Hope Wellness Clinic, Oklahoma Natural Gas, Storage ‘R’ Us, Tinker Federal Credit Union, and Waters Edge Winery

Educator – Moore Rotary Club

Paper – Brown O’Haver & Storage ‘R’ Us

Truck – Storage ‘R’ Us

Social Media – Moore Public Schools Foundation

Significant donations from Chamber members and community supporters include a pallet each of binders and sanitizing wipes worth approximately $4,000 from Feed the Children; 15 boxes of paper (donated annually) from Brown O’Haver; and supply boxes plus the use of the box truck from Storage ‘R’ Us. The Moore Chamber would also like to thank the anonymous private donor who gave the program $1,000. The Chamber extends its deep gratitude for everyone who contributed on any level with their time, dollars, and donations.

For more information or to find out more how you can help with Moore Chamber philanthropic efforts, please contact the Moore Chamber at (405) 794-3400.