The School Supplies Closet Featured on WSOC-TV’s "Carolina Strong"

We’re thrilled to share that The School Supplies Closet was recently featured in a special segment on Channel 9 News (WSOC-TV) in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. The segment aired on May 30, 2025, as part of the station’s “Carolina Strong” series, which highlights impactful community efforts. The story was introduced by anchors Erica Bryant and Jonathan Lowe, and reported by Elsa Gillis.

The 90-second segment spotlighted the mission and work of The School Supplies Closet, including interviews with our Co-Presidents, Owen Carter and Parker Kelly.

Owen Carter opened the feature by stating, “Our goal is to bridge the educational divide.” This mission is central to our work—ensuring that all students, regardless of economic background, have access to the basic materials they need to succeed in school. We accomplish this by donating essential school supplies—such as glue sticks, pencils, markers, notebooks, and more—to Title I schools in Union County.

Parker Kelly added, “In order for the kids to learn, that forces the teachers to go out of their way and buy supplies using their own money.” This highlights a harsh reality: many North Carolina teachers, already underpaid, are left to fund classroom materials out-of-pocket. This situation is not only unfair but also unsustainable. That’s where The School Supplies Closet steps in—to help ease that burden and support both students and educators.

The opportunity to be featured on WSOC-TV arose when a Channel 9 News team member reached out in April 2025 to propose an interview with our Co-Presidents for the “Carolina Strong” segment. We’re incredibly grateful for the chance to share our story with a wider audience.

Since our founding, The School Supplies Closet has donated over $4,000 worth of school supplies, and we’re just getting started.

If you'd like to support our mission and help us continue bridging the educational divide, follow us on Instagram: @schoolsuppliescloset.

Watch the full segment here: Carolina Strong: The group of students collecting school supplies for teachers in need – WSOC-TV