Charity Fund campaign generates $100,000 worth of book packs.

Nearly 6000 school book packs are packed and ready to roll out to 38 drought-affected schools in New South Wales thanks to the generosity of the independent office supplies sector.

Instigated by the Australian Office Products Charity Fund, a campaign to provide stationery packs to drought-affected schools was launched with the support of many suppliers at last November’s charity Christmas lunch in Sydney.

Volunteers have worked over the Christmas and New Year period to compile 5893 individual book packs to be distributed directly to school over coming weeks.

More than 70 per cent of the items contained in the book packs have been donated with the total value of the packs exceeding $100,000.

Major sponsors of the project include ACCO Brands, Australian Paper (Reflex), Brother, Complete Office Supplies, GNS, Hamelin Brands, General Stationery Supplies, Mitsubishi Pencil, Northline Logistics and Staedtler.

Dealer groups Office Brands and Office Choice and several of their members also contributed to the campaign.

PHOTO CAPTION (from top left clockwise):

School children from Trundle Central School, one of 38 schools to receive book packs.

Packing down at Discount Office National: Regina Donaghy, Barrie and Suzanne Parsons (OPN), Nancye Cargill (AOPCF) and Neville Bradley (Fellowes).

Paul Sturgiss (Bennetts Office Supplies), John Donaghy (Discount Office National) and Nancye Cargill (AOPCF).

Pencil case assembers Gabrielle Hill and Grace Parsons.