STAR Youth Leadership Program hosting back-to-school kickoff
Beaufort County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Department’s STAR (Striving to Achieve Resiliency) Youth Leadership Program is kicking off the school year with an event encouraging middle school and high school students north of the Broad to develop peer-to-peer conversations about substance abuse in the hopes of reducing their misuse.
In partnership with All Aboard Beaufort, the event will be held from 10 to 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Beaufort Branch Library at 311 Scott Street.
Student participants will:
- Be Changemakers: Help reduce alcohol and marijuana misuse through peer-to-peer interactions. Your voice matters, and you can make a real impact.
- Earn Rewards: Rack up volunteer hours for awards while gaining leadership and communication skills that will set you apart.
- Get Active: Participate in community scavenger hunts, create media campaigns, and present at schools — turning your ideas into action!
- Meet Movers and Shakers: Engage with community leaders and make your mark on northern Beaufort County.
This is event is free and open to all interested middle school and high school students in northern Beaufort County. The All Aboard Beaufort coalition is funded through the Centers for Disease Control by a Drug-Free Communities award to address primary prevention efforts in northern Beaufort County communities.
For more information and to RSVP, contact Jodie Martinez at jodie.martinez@bcgov.net.
AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head makes donation to Shanklin Elementary
AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head partnered with AdoptAClassroom.org to surprise Joseph Shanklin Elementary School with a $5,000 donation and school supply kits. The retailer dropped into classrooms to present the donation to teachers and students.
The donation was made as part of Subaru Loves Learning, a national program championed by Subaru of America, Inc., that helps provide funding for teachers at high-needs schools across the country to purchase the school supplies and resources needed to help their students succeed. The donation will benefit more than 250 students by providing teachers with $500 worth of funding each to purchase supplies for the school year on the AdoptAClassroom.org Marketplace.
“We’re thrilled to support our local teachers and students through the Subaru Loves Learning® initiative,” AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head Head Community Development Manager Bill Harper said in a news release. “Providing essential school supplies is just one way we give back to our community throughout the year, and we are committed to making a lasting impact year-round through various initiatives that support the needs of our neighbors.”
According to AdoptAClassroom.org, a staggering 92% of teachers nationwide have students from families who can’t afford any school supplies. This leads to teachers spending an average of $860 out of their own pockets each year to equip their classrooms.
“These essential supplies will make a significant impact on our students’ success in the classroom this year. Our teachers, staff, and entire school community extend our heartfelt thanks for this support,” said Liz Rivera, Principal of Joseph Shanklin Elementary School.
This is the fourth year AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head has partnered with Joseph Shanklin Elementary School.
FWDG again supports teachers with ‘Restock My Classroom Giveaway’
FWDG (Furniture Warehouse Design Gallery) continues its tradition of giving back to the community with its annual “Restock My Classroom Giveaway,” providing essential supplies to local teachers in Beaufort and Jasper counties. This year, FWDG donated a total of $5,000 to assist 10 deserving teachers, with each educator receiving $500 to fulfill their Amazon school supplies wish list.
This year’s donation marks a $2,000 increase from previous years, allowing four additional teachers the opportunity to benefit from the giveaway. The winning teachers, selected from Beaufort and Jasper County School Districts, received the chance to have their top priority classroom items purchased by FWDG, ensuring their students have the necessary tools to succeed in the upcoming school year.
The donated items range from basic classroom supplies to specialized educational materials, all aimed at enhancing the learning experience for local children.
— Staff reports
