READ Responses

Kentucky/Indiana Tornados

In mid to late March, READ sent backpacks to Bedford, KY and Winchester, In following tornado activity. In total, 255 backpacks were sent for students in grades K-12th to the impacted school districts.

Texas Wildfires

On February 29, 2024, READ sent 44 backpacks to the Canadian ISD in Canadian, TX following the devastating wildfires impacting the Texas Panhandle.

Clarksville, TN

On December 27, 2023, READ sent 205 backpacks for students in grades K-12 to Clarksville, TN following tornado activity. In 2023, READ provided 3,463 backpacks for students in need.

Maui, Hawaii Wildfire

READ has sent 524 packs to assist the students impacted by the recent Lahaina wildfire. The packs consist of a pencil pouch with pencils, colored pencils, an art journal, pencil sharpener and eraser. The Give the Dream Foundation will receive and distribute the packs for READ. Additionally, through a a generous donation and partnership with Give the Dream Foundation, READ supplied Lahaina schools with 55 TI84 calculators, over 600 mechanical pencils, pencil lead refills, and graph paper to help local high school students prepare and take the SAT/ACT and AP tests.

Vermont

READ provided 300 backpacks on August 9 & 10, 2023 to students in Montpelier, Chelsea/Tunbridge, and Ludlow, VT following a major flooding disaster in July.

Shawnee, OK

On May 2, 2023, 50 backpacks were shipped to Shawnee Public Schools in Shawnee, OK following tornado activity.

Amory, MS

On April 13, 2023, 100 backpacks were shipped to Amory School District following tornado activity. Mississippi is the 10th state to receive READ's assistance.

Cheyenne, OK

On March 2, 2023, 20 backpacks were shipped to Cheyenne Public Schools following tornado activity. Oklahoma is the 9th state to receive READ's assistance.

Autauga County, AL

On January 23, 2023, 85 backpacks were shipped to Autauga County Schools following tornado activity.

Pasadena, TX

On February 3, 2023, 500 backpacks were shipped to Pasadena Independent School District following tornado activity.

January 2023
Northern California Response

1,350 backpacks filled with school supplies were delivered to Planada, CA and Watsonville, CA on January 21. Students were impacted by recent flooding. Co-founders, Anthony & Craig, plus three high school student volunteers travelled 701 miles in one day to make the deliveries.

Hurricane Ian Relief, Florida - October/November 2022

READ responded to Sarasota County and Lee County Schools to assist students and faculty following Hurricane Ian. READ provided the Education Foundation of Sarasota County with school supplies for 300 students to supplement their backpack giving program to students impacted by the hurricane. Additionally, 360 backpacks with school supplies for students and 30 bags with supplies for teachers were provided to Lee County Schools in Fort Myers, FL.

READ responded to the flooding disaster in eastern Kentucky that impacted thousands of students. READ was able to provide 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to Kentucky Education Development Corporation for distribution to those in need. Thank you to family, friends, and students of Ojai Valley School for volunteering to help pack the backpacks for those students in need. Job well done!

Ukraine Humanitarian Aid

READ partnered with the Refugee Empowerment Project (REP) to provide 500 backpacks filled with school supplies for Ukrainian student refugees. REP distributed the backpacks in the greater Los Angeles area and in France.

Allendale County School District, South Carolina, April 2022

READ supplied backpacks for students impacted by tornado activity on April 5, 2022.

Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky
December 2021

READ traveled to Arkansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky and delivered 967 backpacks with school supplies to displaced students from the tornado devastation that occurred December 10/11, 2021. Many children/students have been heavily impacted in this tragedy. We are extremely humbled to be a part of the relief effort.

1st Response - Alabama
March/April 2021

On March 25, 2021, a series of tornados roared through Alabama. In preparation for tornado season, READ had already sent 100 backpacks with school supplies for elementary aged children to Tuscaloosa, AL. On Saturday March 27, Gavin Floyd, READ intern and senior at University of Alabama, delivered backpacks to the Asbury United Methodist Church for them to distribute to community members impacted by the tornados. On Thursday April 8, Gavin delivered backpacks to Oak Mountain Elementary School, after the school reopened, for students that suffered losses from the tornados.

Kentucky/Indiana Tornados

Texas Wildfires

Clarksville, TN

Maui, Hawaii Wildfire

Vermont