Staples, DoSomething collect supplies for kids in L.A.

LOS ANGELES American Idol Jordin Sparks joined hundreds of teen volunteers at the Staples Center on Aug. 7 in support of Do Something 101, a campaign to collect school supplies for students in need, created by DoSomething.org and Staples.

“This summer, Do Something teens rallied to bring tens of thousands of dollars worth of office supplies to Staples store collection points,” said Sparks. “Today’s event is a reminder that the weeks leading up to back-to-school is a great time to join Do Something 101 and help supply students in need.”

Along with Sparks, celebrities including Varsity Fan Club, KayCee Stroh, Tyler Stokes, Michael Petersen, Lauren Storm and Alexandra Krosney traded microphones and stage lights for notebooks and binders as they joined forces to stuff 5,000 bags with pens, calculators and binders that will be distributed to local teens, just in time for back-to-school. Today’s event is just one of many to be held throughout the country as the drive continues building momentum.

Launched in July with a $50,000 donation, Do Something 101 gives teens a chance to make a difference by simply donating pencils, notebooks and other much-needed items to benefit local students in their own communities. These and other supplies are currently being accepted at all Staples locations through Aug. 31.

“The teens who assembled 5,000 kits today for Los Angeles students are role models for their peers and exemplify what it means to give back to their communities,” said Shira Goodman, evp of marketing at Staples. “We hope teens will continue to donate throughout the month, as we know having the right supplies makes for a successful school year.”

Teens who want to participate can go to www.DoSomething101.com for ideas and suggestions on how to run local school supply drives.