Full Circle: Why Back-to-School Season Hits Home for Me

Back to school season has always been an important time for SC4K, but for me, it’s also deeply personal. August 29 would’ve been my mother’s 83rd birthday.  

My mother, Mary, was a devoted teacher who spent her life ensuring her students had what they needed to succeed, usually using her own money. I grew up hearing her say, “I can’t teach if my students don’t have the supplies they need.” I didn’t become a teacher like her and so many others in my family, but her passion planted the seed that grew into my own similar purpose. 

As the former Program Director and now Executive Director of SC4K, I’ve spent over 15 years working to ensure thousands of local students and teachers have access to the essentials needed to attend school. Since joining the organization in 2010, I’ve seen our impact expand significantly. Today, we serve more than 28,000 students and nearly 2,000 teachers each year through three programs: the Legacy Program working through our Distribution Partners, the Teacher Resource Center , which helps educators in under-resourced schools, and the Direct Service Program, helping neighbors who come to us through referrals from our new home at the Community Resource Center.

Over time, I’ve come to understand that SC4K is my version of a classroom. I’m not leading lessons, but I work every day to make sure students have the resources to get to and stay in school. My mother believed, and I still believe, that when students are equipped with the basics, they feel more confident, participate with greater focus, and have a stronger chance of success. 

 One moment I’ll never forget is cleaning out her classroom after she passed away. I opened cabinets filled with new supplies, proof of her constant commitment to her students beyond the lessons. That experience reminded me just how critical our work at SC4K really is. Today, when I meet teachers shopping at our Free Store, I see that same commitment in their eyes. I often ask myself whether my mother would be proud of the path I’ve chosen. When I think about the work I get to do at SC4K, I believe her answer would be yes. I know I’m carrying forward the legacy she instilled in me. 

 As another school year begins, I invite you to think about the teachers who saw your potential, lifted your confidence, or helped you find your voice. The ones who changed your life, just as my mother changed mine. Their influence lives on in each of us. What better way to honor that legacy than by stepping up to help the next generation thrive? Whether you volunteer your time, give a gift, or partner with us, you’ll be helping students walk into school feeling seen, supported, and ready to succeed. 

School success often begins with the basics: a new pair of shoes, a confidence-boosting outfit, essential supplies, and the assurance that someone cares.