Schools Tools makes Charlotte cool

One of the things I like about Charlotte is the way people mobilize to make sure all kids have the supplies they need for the start of school.

The School Tools drive got started in 1996, a year after a public housing project lost its sponsor for a back-to-school festival. The organizers of that small event put out a call for donations, and it seemed like half of Charlotte came by with book bags, notebooks and crayons.

I was covering children's issues at the time, and wanted to seize that momentum by giving readers a roundup of places to donate the following summer. Trouble was, no one was doing a big collection.

Enter Cynthia Marshall, director of Cities In Schools (it's now Communities In Schools, and Marshall has retired). She saw the spark of potential and whipped it to a blaze, teaming up with Hands On Charlotte to launch a regional collection drive for needy students.

In the last 13 years, School Tools has given literally tons of back-to-school goodies to children of poverty. The recession took a bite out of donations last year, and need continues to grow.

This year's drive is in full swing, sponsored by WSOC-TV, Communities in Schools and Classroom Central. It covers 22 counties, with collection points at BB&T branches, Subaru dealerships, WSOC-TV at 1901 N. Tryon St. or Classroom Central at 2116 Wilkinson Blvd. Easiest of all, put supplies at your mailbox on Saturday and your postal carrier will pick them up (click "Postal Collection Day" at the link above for a list of participating zip codes).

I know some online commenters see this as a handout to irresponsible parents, who will spend their money unwisely while others do their children's back-to-school shopping. They're free not to donate. I figure those of us born to loving parents and stable families have already won life's biggest lottery; it's a privilege to share a little joy with kids who didn't fare as well.

And I think it says something pretty amazing about a community to see such a tangible tribute to the value we put on learning.