Supplies, smiles and spirit: Our first community giveback event

By Dani Sheehan. 

Though our crew is spread across the country, this school supply drive showed the power of connection and collaboration. 

This year marked the inaugural school supply drive organized by The Coffee Shops™ crew. What started as a small idea quickly grew into a multi-state effort, with crew members working alongside local roofing companies, partners and community businesses to collect and deliver school supplies to students in need for the 2025-2026 school year. From Oregon to Oklahoma, our partners showed up with generosity and together we were able to make a meaningful impact. 

Portland, Oregon metro area and Vancouver, Washington 

In the Pacific Northwest, Coffee Shops Writer/Reporter Emma Peterson teamed up with Malarkey Roofing Products, Matrix Roofing and Home Solutions and Bliss Roofing to collect supplies for two local schools: Evergreen High School in Vancouver, Washington, and Parklane Elementary in Portland, Oregon. 

Working alongside Coffee Shops Content Administrator, Remy Alexandria, the pair spent a day gathering donations from partners, sorting items and delivering boxes full of pencils, notebooks, erasers, markers and even some fancy pencil boxes. 

“One of the most memorable moments was dropping off supplies at Parklane Elementary,” Emma shared. “As we were leaving, the front office staff gathered around the box, excitedly pulling out items to see what there was and how they could use it this year.” 

Emma and Remy experienced the power of community through this experience: “We’re not a huge company, but this drive showed that when our partners and local roofers come together, we can make an impact that crosses state boundaries,” Emma emphasized. 

Central Oregon 

In Bend, Oregon, Coffee Shops Editor Lauren White partnered with the Central Oregon National Women in Roofing (NWIR) council, local companies including Rock Solid Roofing, SRS Building Products, Scott’s Roofing and All Concepts Roofing, as well as the Camp Sherman Store in Camp Sherman, Oregon. Their efforts supported Warm Springs K-8 Academy on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. 

Donations poured in: backpacks, notebooks, folders, glue, tissues and more. Lauren drove the supplies to the school herself, where she was greeted by principal Lonnie Henderson and a faculty member who helped her unload the car. 

“They were so appreciative of the donations, sharing how they would benefit many students,” Lauren said. “Because there are so few stores nearby, it can be difficult for families to access supplies. I’m so glad we could help fill that gap.” 

As a former teacher, the experience was especially meaningful for Lauren. “I’m really proud of The Coffee Shops crew for building relationships in their communities and making this first organized giveback a success. I can’t wait to see what we do next.” 

Seattle, Washington 

In the Seattle area, members of the NWIR Seattle Council came together to support Woodmont K-8. Coffee Shops Account Manager Brenda Littau teamed up with NWIR council chair Carolina Joya, who gathered donations from the north, while Brenda collected supplies in the south at Minihan Roofing, home of council co-chair Shannon Minihan. 

When it came time for delivery, the generosity was clear. “I picked up a carload from Minihan Roofing,” Brenda shared. “As soon as I opened my car, all her employees started marching out with huge boxes until the back of my Subaru was completely full.” Carolina arrived with a carload of her own and together they delivered everything to the school. 

The donations included two boxes of backpacks, small ones for younger students and full-sized ones for older kids, along with piles of notebooks, colored pencils and more.

The school staff were both surprised and grateful. “They even said they were a school in much need,” Brenda recalled. “It was amazing to see how much we were able to gather and how thankful they were for the support.” 

Northwest Arkansas and Northeastern Oklahoma 

In Oklahoma, Coffee Shops Account Manager Emma Richardson and I partnered with Whirlwind Roofing and Construction in Bixby and offered an Amazon wish list option so supporters could donate supplies virtually. We then delivered donations to Restore Hope Ministries in Tulsa, an organization that provides school supply boxes to children enrolled in Tulsa Public Schools who need extra support. 

While fewer supplies were gathered locally, the Amazon wish list was a success, providing items like construction paper, binders, notecards and markers. Beyond donating supplies, Emma and I drove two hours from Fayetteville, Arkansas, to volunteer for half a day at Restore Hope, helping assemble and distribute supply boxes. That week alone, the organization supported more than 1,200 students. 

Volunteering left a lasting impact. During the event, families met with case workers to confirm enrollment, then received backpacks and supply boxes. Preschool and kindergarten students got their own shopping experience to pick folders, pencil boxes, Play-Doh and more and assemble their own boxes.  

This was probably the most powerful part to witness. Seeing their excitement as they chose their supplies and stuffed their backpacks was unforgettable. Sharon Catalano, director of development and communications at Restore Hope, added that giving the younger children ownership over their supplies really improves their outlook on the school year. 

This is just the beginning 

The success of this first multi-state school supply drive speaks to the heart of The Coffee Shops community. Each drop-off may have looked a little different, but the shared goal was the same: to support students and teachers with the tools they need to succeed.  

And this is just the beginning. As a remote company, we’re excited to continue finding new ways to connect with our local communities, give back where it matters most and make outreach a lasting part of who we are.