NOTTINGHAM, MD— Through several events in January, The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools will be distributing materials to school system staff to be distributed to BCPS students.

“Over the last several months, we have been reaching out to area businesses, individuals, and organizations seeking support for our RISE for a Brighter Future initiative and Share the Warmth campaign,” said Deborah S. Phelps, the foundation’s executive director. “This last year has been really challenging for everyone but even more so for children from low-income families or who have special learning or emotional needs. Through our efforts, especially through RISE, which stands for Relief in Securing Education, we seek to sustain equitable access to critical education resources and support for online teaching and learning.”

Thursday, Jan. 14
Forty-four pupil personnel workers from BCPS will visit the Foundation’s Exchangeree locations (on THE AVENUE at White Marsh and in Windsor Mill) to package bundles to distribute to the students and families they serve. Items in the bundles will include winter coats, gloves, scarves, health and wellness resources, social-emotional learning resources, books, and academic supplies. The items were gathered/funded through the foundation’s Share the Warmth campaign. The packaging event is coordinated in partnership with the BCPS Office of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL).

Wednesday, Jan. 20 – Friday, Jan. 22
Art teachers will be picking up pre-assembled art supplies from the Exchangeree in White Marsh so that they can put together therapeutic art supply toolkits for distribution to their students. The event is coordinated in partnership with the BCPS Office of Visual Arts and funded by RISE Campaign.

Monday, Jan. 25 – Friday, Jan. 29
Staff from the BCPS English for Speakers of Other Languages and Library/Media Services offices will gather at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology in Towson to assemble 1,000 book bundles/SEL tookits. Each book bundle/toolkit, funded by the RISE Campaign, will include five books in both Spanish and English, a Michael Phelps Foundation Program Guide with lessons regarding stress reduction and anxiety, and stress reduction materials such as stress balls, paint kits, journals, and crayons.

Wednesday, January 27
AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a college readiness program offered in schools throughout Baltimore County. On this day, 160 AVID educators will pick up presentation boards and other supplies from Carver Center. This distribution event is funded by the RISE Campaign and coordinated in partnership with the BCPS Office of College and Career Readiness.