SBEF hosts school supplies drive

4,000 Students Find Supplies Waiting on the First Day of School

“It’s a back-to-school tradition,” said Kim Lewis, mother of four and National Charity League (NCL) volunteer. Each year, Lewis and her daughters, one a student at Memorial Middle School and three enrolled at Stratford High School, gather in the Spring Branch ISD board room to sort and distribute school supplies for SBISD’s economically disadvantaged students.

The school supply drive is sponsored by Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF) and spearheaded by Patty and Becky Busmire. The event is a Busmire family tradition as well.

“Becky and I first got involved in 2006. She was in the seventh grade, and it was one of our first NCL activities. We were hooked and offered to take it on as a joint project. Now it’s our last summer activity before Becky returns to college,” Patty said.

Patty Busmire is an SBEF board member and chair of the Foundation’s Special Events committee. Becky is a junior at St. Edwards University in Austin, TX. They were joined in their efforts by members of the National Charity League, Alpha Charity League, National Honor Societies from Memorial and Stratford High Schools and the Memorial Mustang Outreach Bunch.

“Each year, we wonder where we’ll get the supplies,” Patty Busmire said. “And each year, it comes like manna from heaven. This year, employees of Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center were very generous in an employee drive. We received monetary gifts from Wells Fargo, the Northwest Harris County Retired Educators’ Association and a large number of individuals.” The Busmire Family Foundation also contributes to the drive.

Once the supplies were assembled, they were delivered to 29 SBISD schools where they were available to 4,000 students on the first day of school. Up to 60 percent of SBISD students are considered economically disadvantaged, a number that reflects the students eligible for free and reduced meal programs.

Photo (left to right): Becky and Patty Busmire ready 13 pallets of student supplies to deliver to 29 SBISD schools.

About Spring Branch Education Foundation

The Foundation’s mission is to enhance the quality of education for every student in SBISD. Founded in 1993, SBEF provides donors with a vehicle for making tax-deductible gifts to the district. The Foundation has raised more than $8 million and received the Houston Business Promise Award from the Greater Houston Partnership.