Key Points

• Hundreds of school children in need in Utah’s Davis School District began the school year with new clothes and shoes, a first for many of them.
• These essentials came through an initiative of the district’s nonprofit fundraising partner in which community volunteers shopped for the items the children received.
• Marathon Petroleum’s Salt Lake City refinery supported the effort with employee volunteers and employee donations that helped 106 students who, otherwise, might not have received clothing.

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When teachers in Utah’s Davis School District see indications that a child may be lacking clothing and other essentials, they know help is available that doesn’t require the family to fill out forms. Before each school year begins, students previously identified with needs receive new clothing, shoes and backpacks purchased in early August during a one-day event called Child Spree.

Organized by the district’s nonprofit fundraising partner, Davis Education Foundation (DEF), Child Spree provides essentials for hundreds of students with help from volunteers who shop for the items. This year, eight volunteers were employees from Marathon Petroleum’s Salt Lake City refinery, and donations from employees also enabled further support for the event.

“Marathon’s support is incredible. The donations from employees served 106 students in need who otherwise might not have received clothing,” DEF Partnership & Development Coordinator Sherry Miggin said. “Teachers and administrators are so grateful for this assistance. Without it, many feel they need to provide for these students out of their own pockets.”

“For many of the children, it may be the first time they’ve laced up brand-new shoes or shown up on the first day of school in new clothes.”

This year’s event was the fourth consecutive Child Spree that the Salt Lake City refinery has supported. Senior Corporate Social Responsibility & Community Relations Representative Dean Adam was among the refinery’s employee volunteers.

“We don’t meet the children we shop for, but the foundation has helped us understand the impact of our time and resources,” said Adam. “For many of the children, it may be the first time they’ve laced up brand-new shoes or shown up on the first day of school in new clothes.”

DEF serves 92 schools across the district as part of its mission to remove barriers to learning, provide educational opportunities to every student, and create partnerships that connect the community through giving.

“We have approximately 13,000 students who are economically disadvantaged. Child Spree is just one example of our many initiatives to help students come to school ready to learn!” Miggin said.