It’s almost time to dust off those backpacks, fill up the pencil pouches and load the binders up with paper and dividers – and thanks to the eighth annual School Share, local children across the children will be well supplied.

Bank Independent School Share, conducted June 28 through July 16, contributed a total of more than $17,143.45 in cash and an additional 10,345 school supply items to local partner organizations through the $5 Helps Carry the Cost campaign. In Franklin County, $2,156.67 and more than 785 supply items were delivered to the Department of Human Resources, according to Bank Independent.

Donations were accepted at all locations of Bank Independent, by PayPal and through three Stuff the Bus collection events.

“Thank you to the many customers who dropped off supplies and donations throughout this year’s drive,” said Rick Wardlaw, Bank Independent CEO. “We couldn’t make the same financial impact without the help and support of our amazing community.”

Over the past eight years, the School Share drive has generated a financial impact of more than $172,363.50 across the seven-county footprint, according to Bank Independent.

All school supplies and cash donations are distributed through local organizations in each market, which in addition to the Franklin County DHR includes the Committee on Church Cooperation in Decatur, Sidney’s Safe! Foundation, the Department of Human Resources in Lawrence and Limestone counties, and Free 2 Teach in Madison. 

“All School Share contributions go directly to children in need within your local community,” Wardlaw noted.

Chris King, Bank Independent director of marketing, said collection efforts were aided this year by the bank’s newest donation options.

“Two new options that have made donating even easier are our simple $5 Helps Carry the Cost Campaign, which allows for donations through PayPal, and our Smart Swipe pledge match,” King explained. “Customers were able to donate online from the convenience of their device anytime throughout the drive, and Smart Swipe customers made a giving impact through their good-savings habits.”

Smart Swipe rounds up change from Bank Independent debit card purchases to the next dollar and deposits the difference into another BI account of the customer’s choosing.

Bank Independent pledged to match Smart Swipe savings during the drive up to $10,000. The bank reached that pledge match goal and donated that amount to School Share partners.

School Share is part of Bank Independent’s Helping Hands program, which also includes employee volunteer efforts, donations and sponsorships.

Other Share drives are Toy Share to collect toys for children during the holiday season, Shelter Share to benefit animal shelters and Food Share to collect non-perishable food items.