Cooper’s Gifts Apparel Home Owner Kate Gourde showcases sample items the store is collecting for the Homework House of Holyoke during the month of August.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
AGAWAM — Homework House has been chosen as the August recipient for Cooper’s Gifts Apparel’s Home Round Up program, which aims to collect donations for local organizations.
Each month, Cooper’s Owner Kate Gourde chooses a local charity to receive the profits from the store’s program. Customers are invited to round their purchase total up to the nearest dollar amount. Gourde will then match 50% of the total collected.
Cooper’s has donated more than $68,000 to local organizations since the program’s inception in 2014.
For a limited time, Cooper’s is accepting classroom supply donations for Homework House, located at 54 North Summer St., Holyoke. Donations will be collected at the shop now through Monday, Aug. 31.
Homework House Holyoke has been serving the youth of Holyoke for nearly 20 years by providing free after-school academic support and mentoring to underprivileged elementary school students.
Disinfectant wipes, facial tissues, paper towels, copy paper, dry-erase markers and erasers, and card games such as Uno and Go Fish, along with flash cards, are all coveted donations.
Homework House Executive Director Dave Haslam said that in addition to cleaning supplies, traditional school supplies such as backpacks, notebooks, pencils, crayons, folders, markers and dry-erase markers are also welcome. The donations will help Homework House stock essential classroom and program items such as cleaners and sanitizers that they rely on to keep learning spaces safe and healthy.
“Many of these are also items families are asked to provide to their children’s classrooms at the start of the school year,” Haslam stated. “By having a community partner like Cooper’s host this drive, it helps ease that financial burden on the families we serve while also allowing Homework House to better plan and budget for our ongoing program needs.”
Gourde said she invites everyone to help Homework House, and those who do will have a chance to win a $100 Cooper’s Gift Card.
“We hope that while people are out purchasing items to send their children back to school with, that they will consider picking up a few extras for the Homework House. And, you’ll be entered into our raffle,” said Gourde. “We will swap a raffle entry for every item donated to the Homework House. One lucky winner of a $100 Cooper’s gift card will be notified on Sept. 1. Especially for people in the Greater Springfield area, it’s easier to bring donations here, and we are open seven days a week.”
Items may be brought to the shop anytime until Aug. 31. Cooper’s is located at 161 Main St. and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 2-4 p.m.
“This drive coincides with Homework House as our August Round-Up charity; so, it’s the perfect time to spread the word about their mission and really help them out,” Gourde said.
Haslam said every donation received through the Coopers Back-to-School Supply Drive will go directly toward ensuring its students have the supplies they need to start the school year prepared and confident. The program also ensures that they walk into Homework House ready to learn in a clean, welcoming and well-equipped environment.
Readers can find more information about the Round Up program and how to nominate a charity by visiting Cooper’s website, coopersgifts.com/round-up.
This is now the second year Cooper’s has hosted the drive for the Homework House, and Haslam said the organization couldn’t be more thankful.
“We are incredibly grateful for our longstanding partnership with Cooper’s. Every August, Homework House has been honored to be selected as their Round Up charity, and that support has made a meaningful difference for our organization over the years,” Haslam said. “It speaks to the kind of community partner they are, not just making a donation, but finding meaningful ways to support local children and families. Knowing that Coopers and its customers are investing in the success of Holyoke’s students means so much to us. We hope the community will stop by Cooper’s throughout the month of August to support the supply drive. A simple donation can have a lasting impact on a child’s school year, and together, we can help ensure every student starts the year with the tools they need to learn, grow and succeed.”
