Christmas comes early at Steele Creek Elementary (+ video)

There probably weren’t a lot of notepads made and sold in Steele Creek on Dec. 17, but there sure were a lot of them given away.

Carolina Pad & Paper brought backpacks, notepads and other supplies for students at Steele Creek Elementary School — all of them.

“Right around 800,” said school counselor Hannah Clonch, who helped the company organize its donation. “With supplies in them and everything.”

Dozens of employees dressed in holiday garb passed out stuffed backpacks. Students received treats. Teacher received gifts. Employees gave only one condition for the gifts. Students had to say thank you, to their teachers.

“Our kids are loving it,” Clonch said. “They’re so excited and saying how it’s the best day ever. And the teachers appreciate it. They were looking forward to this day.”

Carolina Pad & Paper owner Clay Presley said a few years ago, he and other leaders decided to do something different for Christmas. They brought supplies to Nations Ford Elementary School the first year, then to Steele Creek last year.

“It started when we decided to give up our Christmas party,” Presley said. “We thought this would be something great to do with our employees instead.”

Bill Stacks, president and CEO of the 70-year-old company, said the company wants to make a kind, but also practical, gesture toward local schools. Employees look for deals at back to school time or shortly thereafter, with eyes toward Christmas.

“We basically take a back to school list, and that’s what we put in the backpacks,” Stacks said.

Employees spent about three hours at the school Thursday, visiting each class and asking students what they wanted for Christmas before handing out gifts. One employee hugged a teacher who once taught her. Others let students choose what style of backpack they liked best.

Both business and school leaders say community partnerships are strong in Steele Creek. A group of corporate, private and faith-based organizations partnering with public schools, Alignment SW Charlotte, has been called a model by Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools leadership.

Even in an area where people show strong support for schools, Clonch said, Thursday’s donation went above and beyond.

“We get school supplies donated, but for somebody to come in and want to do something for all the students, it doesn’t always happen,” she said.

This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 1:07 PM with the headline "Christmas comes early at Steele Creek Elementary (+ video)."