ANNAPOLIS, MD—Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller this week joined officials from the Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland State Department of Education, and Maryland Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs to help ensure students across the state are prepared for the 2023-24 school year. At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County, Lt. Governor Miller helped pack bags of notebooks, pencils, glue sticks and other supplies – all donated by state employees and the general public during the 2023 Back to School Supply Drive conducted by MDOT, MSDE and Boys & Girls Clubs.

“The collaborative work of state employees, the Boys & Girls Clubs, and all Marylanders who participated in this drive demonstrates a shared commitment to Maryland’s future,” said Lt. Governor Miller. “The Moore-Miller Administration is doing our part to give every student a world class education, which is why we’ve made record investments in K-12 public education in our budget. Through our continued partnership, we can ensure every young person has the tools they need to succeed in the classroom.”

Items to fill more than 1,000 bags and cash donations exceeding $3,000 were collected during the third annual drive, conducted July 10-28. Maryland Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs will work with member Clubs and partner nonprofits to deliver items to areas with most need in every Maryland county and Baltimore City.

During the drive, Maryland Department of Transportation business units including the Secretary’s Office, the State Highway Administration, the Motor Vehicle Administration, the Maryland Transit Administration, the Maryland Port Administration, the Maryland Aviation Administration, and the Maryland Transportation Authority collected supplies from employees and customers at more than 50 locations statewide.

“Our MDOT team is honored to partner with the Maryland State Department of Education and the Boys & Girls Clubs to help make sure students have the tools they need to succeed in the classroom,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “The success of this drive reflects our strong partnership across the state and sends a tremendous message about our communities’ shared priority to invest in Maryland’s future.”

The Maryland State Department of Education also conducted a collection drive for supplies and donations among its employees statewide, and promoted the school supply drive on its website and social media. Maryland Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs promoted the drive and hosted a website where monetary donations could be made specifically for school supplies.

“As we continue our collective work to support local education agencies and schools, this collaborative effort provides the opportunity to directly help students across the State,” said State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury. “The 2023 Back to School Supply Drive in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Boys & Girls Club will help us rally around and support our students as we help provide the tools needed to give students the strongest start possible for this school year.”

“For the past three years, this partnership with MSDE and MDOT has supported Boys & Girls Clubs across Maryland in making sure young people are ready for school and prepared for success,” said Maryland Alliance of Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Y’landa Burch. “We are grateful for this wonderful initiative helping us serve families and youth in communities across the state.”

In addition to Lt. Governor Miller, Secretary Wiedefeld and Executive Director Burch, other officials attending the event at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County included MSDE Deputy Director of Community Engagement Linsey Malig-Mayhew, MSDE Community Engagement Coordinator Taadie Robinson, Boys & Girls Clubs of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Chief Executive Officer Lisa Mondoro, Motor Vehicle Administrator Chrissy Nizer, State Highway Administrator William Pines, Maryland Aviation Administration Executive Director Ricky Smith, Maryland Transportation Authority Executive Director Joey Sagal, Maryland Port Administration Interim Acting Executive Director Brian Miller, and Maryland Transit Administration Chief Operating Officer Joe Davis.

Maryland Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs serves more than 25,000 young people through youth development programs at over 80 club locations across the state. For details on programs and services offered by Boys & Girls Clubs, view the website here.

PHOTO: From left, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld, Maryland State Department of Education Community Engagement Coordinator Taadie Robinson and Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller pack school supply bags with the help of youngsters at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County.