TCC stores gear up for giveaway

SANDPOINT — Round Room, LLC, the nation’s largest Verizon authorized wireless retailer, is set to hand out 187,000 backpacks filled with school supplies on July 22 at more than 1,200 TCC and Wireless Zone stores across the country.  

The Ponderay and Sandpoint branches of TCC will each have about 220 backpacks to give away to ensure local kids are ready for the upcoming school year. This donation marks TCC’s sixth annual "School Rocks Backpack Giveaway." Since 2013, TCC has donated 752,000 backpacks filled with supplies to kids, according to a Round Room statement.

"I've never worked for a company that has donated as much as TCC does," said Cody Williamson, manager of the Ponderay TCC store. "They really put themselves out in the community and lend out a hand to help everyone, especially with this backpack drive. I remember being in the Coeur d'Alene store last year — it was a blast. The kids were so grateful and so happy."

According to the National Retail Federation, families with school-aged children plan to spend an average $687.72 each, an 8 percent increase, for a total of $29.5 billion, on school supplies this year.

With nearly one of every five school-aged children in the U.S. living in poverty, TCC is working to alleviate the rising costs of school supplies through this annual program, according to the Round Room statement.

Williamson said it means a lot to him knowing that many families struggle with getting supplies for kids to go back to school each year.

"I was one of those kids who didn't have too much ability to get much ... so I know it means a lot to the kids, too," Williamson said. "It's very heartwarming for sure."

TCC makes ongoing investments in the local communities where it operates through its "Culture of Good" movement, the statement says.

Earlier this year, the company donated supply packs to more than 5,000 teachers across the country and 3,000 care kits to senior living communities. In 2017, TCC donated 172,000 backpacks with school supplies to children; 3,000 care kits to senior living communities; and supply packs to more than 5,600 teachers and 2,500 veterans across the nation.

Supporters of the School Rocks Backpack Giveaway are encouraged to use hashtags #SchoolRocks and #BetterTogether on Instagram and Twitter to help spread the word.

"We are thrilled to support the education of our youth in our communities," said Scott Moorehead, CEO of Round Room, in the statement. "By providing families across the country with essential school supplies, we’re easing the back-to-school shopping burden and helping set children up for success."

The participating TCC store in Ponderay is located at 477100 N. Highway 95 and the Sandpoint store is located at 201 Superior St. Backpacks filled with various school supplies, including pencils, paper, a pencil box, folders and glue, can be picked up between 1-4 p.m. on July 22.

One backpack per child present will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone @bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.