Graves McLain Injury Lawyers has continued its decade-long tradition of supporting local students by distributing nearly 3,000 customized school supply packs to four high-need schools in the Tulsa and Union Public School systems. The initiative, which began in 2016 with the Free Backpack Program, has evolved to meet the changing needs of students and families, and this year, the firm took a more targeted approach.
By participating in a community back-to-school coalition established by the Schusterman Family Foundation and engaging in direct conversations with school representatives, Graves McLain identified schools with significant student need, including high free and reduced lunch rates, that were not already receiving substantial assistance from other programs. This led to the selection of Central High School, Will Rogers High School, Union 6th/7th Grade Center, and Union Freshman Academy as the beneficiaries of this year’s effort.
Rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all strategy, the firm purchased supplies based on each school’s specific wish lists. The 2,850 packs contained more than 24,000 items, including pencils, pens, composition notebooks, highlighters, notebook paper, folders, earbuds, glue sticks, markers, scissors, correction tape, and other classroom essentials. The distribution included 1,100 packs for Union 6th/7th Grade Center, 500 for Union Freshman Academy, 350 for Central High School, and 900 for Will Rogers High School.
The completed packs were hand-delivered to the schools in time for the new school year. Graves McLain partner Chad McLain met with faculty and staff to express gratitude and reinforce community support for educators and youth. Team members from Graves McLain, along with participants from Gatesway Foundation, assisted in assembling the packs. Gatesway, which provides vocational training and enrichment programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, received a donation from Graves McLain in support of its programs, amplifying the initiative’s community impact.
“Every year, we look at how we can make the greatest impact for local students and families,” said Chad McLain. “This year, we had a better understanding of where there were still gaps in back-to-school support, which allowed us to focus our resources on schools with significant need and provide the specific supplies they told us would help their students most. Being able to support nearly 3,000 students while also supporting the work being done at Gatesway made this year’s effort especially meaningful.”
The firm’s back-to-school efforts have ranged from direct school donations to large-scale distribution events over the past decade. This year’s approach reflects the same commitment that began with the Free Backpack Program in 2016: finding meaningful ways to help local students start the school year prepared to succeed. For more information about Graves McLain Injury Lawyers and their community initiatives, visit www.gravesmclain.com.
