The Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Foundation recently teamed up with Hope thru Soap, the NFL Alumni Association, and Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) to provide essential services to Gwinnett families in need. The joint event, which took place at Norcross High School, provided more than 300 students, families, and community members with free haircuts, mobile showers, a warm meal, a food pantry, clothing giveaways, and free school supplies. Members of the NFL Alumni Association volunteered their time to sign autographs and give away nearly 500 pairs of socks, while CORE offered free vaccines and booster shots.

Aaron Lupuloff, GCPS Foundation Director, and Norcross Community School Director Mike Cammack facilitated the collaboration between Hope thru Soap and community partners to ensure local families had a day of community engagement and support. “‘It takes a Village’ is a mantra that the GCPS Foundation team says over and over as we embrace the opportunity to improve the lives of all students at GCPS,” Mr. Lupuloff shares. “Over half of the student body in GCPS qualifies for free or reduced lunch, which clearly illustrates the need for more events like this.” 

The event was so successful that the GCPS Foundation and Office Depot Office Max are planning to host another event at Summerour Middle School on Saturday, September 23, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Donating is the fastest way to make a difference if you are interested in supporting Hope thru Soap. Select “Hope thru Soap” as your gift designation. For more information about services available to GCPS families and students, follow Hope thru Soap and the GCPS Foundation on Facebook and Instagram.