Share
With Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools on board, local UPS Stores are donating free copies to cash-strapped schools across Mecklenburg and expanding into Union and Cabarrus counties.
Stores have donated cards good for 310,000 copies so far, and 21 stores are offering people the chance to buy discounted copy cards for needy schools, said operations manager Scott Fidler.
The donation drive was prompted by last month's news that a state spending freeze had created a school copy crunch. Officials briefly believed all copies on machines leased with state money were banned; the state later clarified that copies would be allowed only for instructional work.
Peter McCranie, owner of the Foxcroft Center store in southeast Charlotte, was the first to jump in, distributing cards for 10,000 free copies among four nearby schools.
“We are so appreciative of that kind of community support at a time when we're obviously in need,” said Rama Road Elementary Principal Brian Bambauer.
He said his teachers copied some homework assignments at the UPS Store, but the school is hoarding most of its freebies for sending year-end information to parents, including lists of school supplies needed next year.
“It's essential, because we have (families) who don't have Internet access,” Bambauer said.
In addition to the donations, UPS Stores around Mecklenburg County are offering 200 prepaid copies for $6 if the cards are donated to schools, down from the normal price of $8 for 100.
Buyers can specify a school or ask that the cards be sent to CMS, which will direct them to schools in need. Many of the district's most impoverished schools aren't near a store.
“We're hoping John Q. Public and PTAs will help with that,” said CMS partnership coordinator Phyllis Croutch.
