The DASH Courier team joined WSOC-TV’s 9 School Tools program to collect and move thousands of donated school supplies to Classroom Central, the nonprofit that equips teachers at qualifying schools with the materials their students need. Our crew began at Charlotte Fire Department Station 6, then ran coordinated routes to every CFD station in the city, participating Ashley stores, and E.R. Services locations before consolidating donations for delivery.
What is 9 School Tools and where do donations go?
9 School Tools is WSOC-TV’s annual back-to-school drive. The campaign partners with Classroom Central, which distributes free supplies to educators serving students in need across our region. When you donate to 9 School Tools, your contribution helps Classroom Central stock its teacher programs so that essentials like notebooks, pencils, and folders reach local classrooms quickly.
Classroom Central operates a Free Store in Charlotte where eligible teachers can make an appointment to shop once a month from August through May. The organization also operates a Mobile Free Store, which brings supplies to districts farther from the city, thereby extending the impact of community donations during the busy back-to-school season.
Where we picked up supplies
To keep the flow of donations moving smoothly, our drivers ran coordinated routes to:
- Charlotte Fire Department stations (including Station 6 and every active station citywide)
- Ashley stores participating in the drive
- E.R. Services (the local plumbing company that supports 9 School Tools each year)
WSOC-TV’s donation map lists these as official drop-off partners each season, and we were thrilled to provide the “bridge” that gets those gifts to Classroom Central quickly.
Why this drive matters
Teachers routinely spend their own money to stock classrooms. 9 School Tools fills Classroom Central’s shelves so educators can get the basics for free and students can start the year ready to learn. WSOC-TV highlights the core needs each season, including crayons, dry-erase markers, filler paper, glue sticks, highlighters, pencils, pocket folders, and more.
The sooner supplies reach Classroom Central, the sooner teachers can access them. That is why fast pickup, consolidation, and delivery matter during the peak donation window. Recent coverage from WSOC-TV underscores how these donations directly support teachers who would otherwise face empty shelves.
Logistics that make a difference
Coordinating dozens of pickups across the metro area is what DASH does best. For 9 School Tools, we:
- Staged vehicles to sweep CFD Station 6 and nearby firehouses first, then expanded to cover all 43 stations citywide.
- Scheduled timed pickups from Ashley locations and E.R. Services to avoid retail/service rushes.
- Consolidated loads for fast turnaround to Classroom Central so supplies could be sorted the same day.
That speed matters: the earlier the inventory hits Classroom Central, the sooner teachers can access it before the first day of school.
How you can help
There is still time to support students and teachers.
- Drop off supplies at participating Ashley stores, Charlotte Fire Department stations, and E.R. Services locations. Use the WSOC-TV map to find the closest site.
- Learn more or give online through Classroom Central or the 9 School Tools hub. Your support strengthens programs that provide supplies directly to local educators.
From everyone at DASH Courier, thank you for your donation, volunteering and for spreading the word. We were honored to lend our trucks, routes, and teamwork to a cause that fuels learning in every corner of our community.