SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)– A school supply drive was held in Onondaga County by entrepreneur and multiple business owner Kendra Ogletree. Ogletree has done drives in the past but nothing like this. She decided to have her first back-to-school drive because she understands the difficulties families can undergo and wanted to give back to the community.
“Me being a single mom myself and knowing that it’s hard times and wanting to give back to the community because nobody didn’t help me,” Ogletree said.
Everything from superhero to princesses backpacks, construction paper, crayons, rulers, toys and other supplies were available at the drive. For families to receive the supplies, they had to fill out a form with their name, child’s age and address. Ogletree also asked that parents bring their children because she said this event is ultimately for them.
According to Ogletree the profits from her company Kendra’s Events and Rentals and other pop-up shops she runs funded approximately 80% of the supplies. The other 20% was donated from vendors such as Kid’s Footlocker and other local businesses. At the drive, Ogletree also had a few pop-up shops attend, which she says is just another way she gives back to the community.
“I do pop-up shops for local businesses to give them the opportunity to promote their business and sell their product,” Ogletree said.
Although this was her first school supply drive, she doesn’t plan on it being her last because she has plans to do this again next year. She is also planning for her next event, which is a hat, coat and boot drive in October that will also have Halloween costumes for the children. Ogletree says she is always busy and looking to get involved in new things.
“I do a little bit of this and a little bit of that,” Ogletree says.
