GREENVILLE, S.C. — More than 3,000 Greenville County students will start the school year with new backpacks stocked with free school supplies thanks to supporters of United Way of Greenville County’s annual School Tools project.

For 19 years, United Way has offered the program to Greenville County as a way to support education and financial stability for families by alleviating some of the financial burden felt at the beginning of a new school year.

“Many families in our community are struggling to make ends meet, so when back-to-school time arrives, the excitement for a new school year can be crushed by the extra pressure on the family budget,” said United Way of Greenville County President and CEO Meghan Barp. “We are inspired by and grateful for the generous donors and volunteers who have stepped up to ease that burden for families and ensure all Greenville County students have a great start to the school year.”

Families visited one of four locations across the county on Saturday to receive the supplies from United Way volunteers. Host sites included Freetown Community Center in Greenville, Center for Community Services in Simpsonville, Victor Park Gym in Greer and Foothills Family Resource Center in the North Greenville area.

More than 100 local companies donated backpacks and supplies, and many more individual donors contributed financial gifts to purchase additional supplies. Nearly 300 volunteers assisted in sorting and distributing this year’s donations.

Families who were unable to attend a School Tools distribution event are encouraged to contact their child’s school for information on how to access additional supplies.

Thank you to the following companies for their generous support of School Tools:

• Action Research Corporation
• AECOM Technical Services, Inc.
• Ahold USA
• Allen Tate Realtors
• Allstate Agency
• AMBLING
• Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc.
• B2B Media, LLC
• BASF Corporation – Mauldin
• Bausch + Lomb
• BE&K Building Group
• Belk, Inc. Southern Division – Haywood Mall
• Bennett Equipment & Supply Co., Inc.
• Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner REALTORS – Garlington Road Office
• Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner REALTORS – Simpsonville Office
• BMW Manufacturing Co, LLC
• Bon Secours St. Francis Health System
• Brown & Brown of SC Inc.
• Canal Insurance Company
• Carolinas Telco FCU
• Cass Information Systems, Inc., Telecom Services Division
• CBRE, Inc.
• Clemson Data Sigma Pi Fraternity
• ClineHose & Hydraulics, LLC
• Coldwell Banker Caine
• CPI Security Systems
• Design Strategies, LLC
• Duke Energy
• Elliott Davis
• Esurance
• EuroKera North America, Inc.
• Fabri-Kal Corporation
• FGP International
• First Baptist Church, Greenville
• Ford Motor Credit
• Fox Carolina
• FUEL – Digital Marketing & Branding
• Furman University
• G3 Real Estate Services, LLC dba Goldsmith Company
• Gallivan, White & Boyd, P.A.
• GE Power
• Godshall Professional Recruiting & Staffing
• Greenville Chapter of Medical Assistants
• Greenville Civitan Group
• Greenville Country Club
• Greenville County Library System
• Greenville County Schools
• Greenville Health System
• Greenville Health System – Finance Department
• Greenville Technical College
• Greenwood Genetic Center
• Grill Marks
• HomeTrust Bank – Pelham road
• HomeTrust Bank – Woodruff Road
• Hubbell Lighting, Inc.
• IH Services
• Immedion, LLC
• Industrial Project Innovation (IPI), LLC
• Integrated Power Services, LLC
• ITW-Hartness
• J. Freeman & Associates
• JHM Enterprises, Inc.
• JTEKT North America Corporation
• Keller Williams Greenville Central
• KPMG LLP
• Lockheed Martin Aeronatuics Greenville
• LS3P Associates LTD.
• Marsh USA Inc
• Mauldin Civitan Group
• Meals on Wheels of Greenville, Inc.
• Meridian Marketing Media
• MetLife
• Multi-Pack Solutions
• NAI Earle Furman
• Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
• NETXUSA, An Ingram Micro Company
• Nutra/GNC Manufacturing
• O’Neal Inc.
• Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
• Pierburg Inc.
• Pleasantburg Family Dentistry
• Propel HR, Inc.
• Publix Supermarkets
• Recruiting/Solutions
• Regional Management Corporation
• Resurgent Capital Services
• Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP
• Solvay Specialty Polymers
• South State Bank
• SynTerra
• TD Bank
• The Blood Connection, Incorporated
• The Reynolds Company
• Thomas McAfee Funeral Home
• Thornblade Club
• TRANE
• UBS Financial Services, Inc.
• United Community Bank
• United Health Group
• Upcountry History Museum
• UPS Inside Sales Division
• Vann & Liv
• Verizon Wireless
• Womble Bond Dickinson
• WYFF 4