Push for Pencils Blog
Volunteer Spotlight: Trisha Breckenridge
Name: Trisha Breckenridge
Age: 20
School: Lindenwood University
Major: English, minor in Communications
Interests: Fitness, especially kickboxing, yoga
How long have you been volunteering at KidSmart?
Six months
Why did you choose to volunteer at KidSmart?
“My mom is a teacher, so I already had an interest in helping kids succeed in school. I think KidSmart is really important to our community, and like I’m really making a difference. My roommate is also a volunteer at KidSmart.”
What do you like best about volunteering at KidSmart?
“I love that it directly helps St. Louis’ kids, teachers and schools. The staff and volunteers that work at KidSmart are all so nice, and I love interacting with the teachers who come in to shop. Everyone is really genuine, and you can tell that they all really care about helping the kids that are in need.”
As a child, what school supply was most valuable to you?
“My notebooks. We kept journals throughout the school year, and it’s funny now to look back at them and see the things that I wrote! Having notebooks to use allowed me to be creative, to use my imagination and to express myself.”
Posted by Aimee Knebel on February 18, 2010 | comments (0) | Permalink
BIG Thank You to Staples, Target & Paper Plus
KidSmart is beyond excited to announce three HUGE product donations that came in this week from a few of our corporate donors!
Staples sent over tons of office & school supplies for our teachers to take back to their classrooms. In addition, Paper Plus sent over a huge paper donation that will provide for thousands of children. Lastly, Target sent over FIVE TRUCKLOADS of paper.
Our corporate donors help make it possible for St. Louis’ children to have the essential supplies they need to succeed in school. Teachers especially appreciate such generous donations; for their students, KidSmart’s Free Store can mean the difference between completing their assigned work and feeling pride in their accomplishments or facing fundamental obstacles to gaining and applying knowledge.
Again, a BIG thank you from KidSmart and those we serve for your continued support and generosity.
Posted by Aimee Knebel on February 12, 2010 | comments (0) | Permalink
Join us for KidSmart Night at the Blues Game!
The Blues and Captain Eric Brewer are teaming up with KidSmart for the KidSmart School Supply Drive! Purchase a ticket through the below KidSmart offer and and $5 of your purchase will be donated towards Blues backpacks for area students in need! Volunteers will be collecting basic school supplies at each entrance (pencils, paper, crayons, markers, etc.) In addition, there will be a special silent auction as well as a “mystery brown bag” sale. In 2007, Captain Eric Brewer and his wife Rebecca joined forces with KidSmart and continue to be active volunteers and supporters. For more information, call (314) 622-BLUE. We hope to see you there, and as always, thank you for supporting KidSmart!
Posted by Aimee Knebel on February 05, 2010 | comments (0) | Permalink
Exciting & New KidSmart Job Opportunities! Come Grow With Us!
Three Exciting Opportunities with KidSmart!
If you are interested in any of the positions below please email resumes and coverletters to Connie Hampton at unles noted otherwise.
Job Title: Store Operations Manager
(Temporary position to be filled immediately for the next 90 days.)
The temporary position will work 8:30am to 6:30pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and meet the below requirements for the Store Operations Manager.
Job Title: Store Operations Manager (permanent position)
Reports To: President
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Contact: Connie Hampton at .
Summary:
The KidSmart Free Store distributes, annually, $4 million in free school supplies and educational resources to 45,000 local children in need. The Free Store Manager has the overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of the free store in accordance with overall organization policy and strategic plan.
• The main focus of the Free Store Manager position is to improve the commercial performance of the store by increasing the quality and quantity of supplies distributed while maximizing customer service for both teachers and volunteers.
• Achieving performance objectives will require action in the following areas of retail activity: store operations to include oversight of inventory, control, stocking and merchandising; human resources/volunteers; customer care; marketing; logistics; information technology; and administration.
• Coordinate the activities of volunteers including, training, support, guidance, recruitment and retention. Major parts of the job on a day-to-day basis include managing volunteers, finding new ways to improve sales and meeting customer demand.
Education and Skills Required:
• Bachelor’s degree
• Strong retail and management skills (minimum 10 years); non-profit experience a plus
• Excellent relationship builder and able to motivate workforce of volunteers
• Driven by sales objectives and providing outstanding customer service
• Strong project management skills
• Strong inventory control skills; workflow design and control; display and space utilization; operational quality assurance
• Adept in all Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Database experience a plus for maintaining records and documentation pertaining to sales and teacher visits
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
Background:
Must be a dynamic, creative thinker and have an affinity for team environments. Energetic personality, people person and willing to get hands dirty. Candidate must be able to adhere to and enforce strict shopping policies aligned with KidSmart mission.
• Ability to work full-time schedule including evenings until 6:30 PM plus Saturdays, required (Free Store is currently closed on Sunday and Monday and most national holidays, schedule is subject to change).
• Flexibility in scheduled work hours to accommodate special events, board meetings or other occasions beyond standard work day.
• Competitive salary with health benefits and paid time for leave (sick, personal, vacation).
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
• Develop and executes operations business plan aligned with KidSmart strategic goals to include all program requirements, labor hours, cycle, production costs, and image.
• Assist with procurement of product from KidSmart key product donors
• Establish quality control standards, assists with developing budget, implements cost controls, ensure that all established costs, quality, and delivery commitments are met.
• Manage product restocking, merchandising and distribution.
• Manage inventory levels and make key decisions about inventory control. Coordinates inventory and distribution logistics activities
• Oversight of all inventory and operating reports and directs the resolution of operational and maintenance problems to ensure minimum costs and prevent operational delays
• Ensure a high standard of customer service, health and safety are met to include: teachers, volunteers, staff and donors
• Represent organization to the public by acting as a corporate spokesperson. Tour the sales floor regularly, talking with customers and volunteers to identify needs and resolve urgent issues. Assist with check-in and check-out, as needed
• Ensure that the store and common areas are kept clean, organized and presentable for business
• Initiate necessary changes to improve the business, e.g. revising opening hours to ensure the store can compete effectively with extended school schedules
• Analyze distribution/sales figures and forecasting of future distribution volume to meet annual sales goals. Use information technology to record sales figures for data analysis and forward planning. Ensure that all established sales goals are met
• Performs administrative activities associated with the effective management of the organizations operations.
• Determine responsibilities of assigned operations staff positions to accomplish business objectives. Trains and ensures all employees are aware of and comply with company, government, and customer policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Establish and maintain relationships with industry influencers and key community and strategic partners.
Job Title: Grant Writer
Supervisor: Director of Development
Contracted 6-month position
Contact: Christy McCutcheon, 314-291-6211 or
Position Summary:
Working directly with the Director of Development and development team this position will provide research, writing and administrative support for KidSmart’s grant program.
Experience Required:
• Bachelor’s Degree in English, Communications or equivalent plus exceptional written and verbal communication skills is required.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills are essential.
• Previous experience with grant writing and public relations writing.
• Proven success in achieving measurable financial results
• PC proficiency is required.
• Individual must be a detail-oriented team player with the ability to multi-task and prioritize a variety of projects.
• Strong stewardship skills are required
• Interest in children, education and the non-profit sector required.
Specific Responsibilities:
• In collaboration with the Director of Development and development team manage KidSmart’s grant writing program.
• Research grant makers to locate new sources of funding for KidSmart
• Draft and edit foundation and corporate grants
• Research and compile relative and statistical information
• Acquire necessary letters of support
• Prepare follow-up reports for grant makers as required
• Maintain updated and accurate files
• Initiate annual contact with all grant makers utilizing stewardship skills
Posted by developer on January 28, 2010 | comments (0) | Permalink
Gift of Heart Supply Drive
February is the month of hearts, love and KidSmart’s Gift of Heart Supply Drive. Local places of worship collect the five most-needed school supplies; loose leaf paper, pencils, markers, crayons and glue to re-stock the KidSmart Free Store shelves. If your place of worship is interested in hosting a supply drive for KidSmart during the month of February, please let us know! Call or email Stanley Bray at 314-291-6211 or email to let us know the church name and contact person. Download a flyer here.
Posted by developer on January 27, 2010 | comments (0) | Permalink
Read about one of KidSmart’s supporters.
St. Louis Synergy Service Project
School Supply Drive Results
Thank You for all your Donations!
Greetings!
The Jr. Board has successfully completed their first service project of the year, the “Push for Pencils” school supply drive! Kid Smart received a great donation from the St. Louis Synergy teams and were grateful to see the 3 large boxes of supplies. Here are some fun stats on the drive:
- All six teams participated
- We had an overall 50% participation rate - 49 skaters donated supplies
- A total of 1330 items were collected!
- The two teams that collected the most supplies were the Youth Formation team and the Juvenile team! Way Show your Synergy Service & Team Spirit!
- Thank you to all skaters and their families who participated and a special thank you to Amanda Kennedy for spear heading the drive, to Noelle Kennedy for her support in getting things organized and to Mindy Reichert for delivering the supplies to Kid Smart.
Jr. Board members Kameryn Truman, Amanda Kennedy, Maddie Wise and Olivia Rosemann tallyed and boxed the supplies collected for KidSmart who sponsors Push for Pencils.
KidSmart’s mission is, “To ensure that children and their classrooms in the Greater Metropolitan Saint Louis Area have the basic tools for learning by transferring, at no cost, the community’s surplus supplies and merchandise into the hands of teachers for school children in need.”
For more information please visit the KidSmart Website
Posted by developer on September 15, 2009 | comments (0) | Permalink
2009-2010 Shopping Schedule
The shopping and volunteer schedule has been set. It is a little different from past years, including longer shopping hours on Saturdays. Please be sure to take a look in the TEACHER section of the website. We hope to see you soon!
Posted by Jennifer on August 06, 2009 | comments (0) | Permalink
Thank You Barry-Wehmiller
Special thanks to a group of fabulous volunteers this morning from Barry-Wehmiller! This group helped re-stock the shelves of the Free Store to prepare for shopping this aftternoon. Their 3-hours of volunteer time is equivelant to a $500 cash donation - and will help us to distribute $3,000 in much needed school supplies to kids in need in our community! Thank you so much to Barry-Wehmiller. If you are interested in bringing in a corporate group to volunteers please contact us at 314-291-6221 or email
Posted by Jennifer on August 05, 2009 | comments (0) | Permalink
Push for Pencils—Go Macy’s!
The Push For Pencils Supply Drive officially begins Saturday, August 1. However, Macy’s has set the bar high! Using posters and Crunch bars to build awareness, employees were encouraged to donate school supplies to help the area’s needy students. At the end of the campaign, Sharon Hellner, manager in retail services delivered 1,130 items to KidSmart. The staff gave their thanks and appreciation for a job well done. The donation not only provided a good start for the Push for Pencils campaign, but also shows the support of the community to help our children. Congratulations, Macy’s on a job well done.
If you are interested in participating in the Push for Pencils Supply Drive, visit the Web site at www.kidsmartpushforpencils.org.
Posted by developer on July 30, 2009 | comments (0) | Permalink
The Push Is On! Thank You Push for Pencils Partners 2009
For the seventh year, KidSmart will partner with more employees in more than 100 local businesses, organizations, and office buildings throughout the Greater Metropolitan St. Louis area. New this year...KidSmart’s Push for Pencils Website. Be sure to check out the corporate teams participating in this year’s campaign. Individuals and groups may also set up a team at www.kidsmartpushforpencils.org.
It is no surprise that this year the need is greater than ever before. KidSmart is counting on the continuing kindness and generosity of 50,000+ employees in St. Louis to collect 550,000 school supplies and $50,000 to equip 45,000 local kids in need with the tools they desperately need to start and succeed in school. The top needed items, again this year, are pencils, paper, crayons, marker, and glue.
In addition to the many corporate drives, individuals may drop off supplies at any Crown Vision Center or Commerce Bank location. There is also a list of other participating businesses hosting community drives and accepting donation from the public available on the Push for Pencils Website.
Posted by admin on July 24, 2009 | comments (0) | Permalink