Two percent can go a long way, as the North Callaway School District has discovered.

The district recently announced that all of its students, from the elementaries to the middle school and high school, will have their school supply lists covered for the 2024-25 school year. Made possible through United Security Bank’s Thunderbird debit card rewards program, which gave two percent back to the district on all purchases, it received an additional boost through memorials from the families of Ron O’Donley and Walter Schubert who recently passed away, and the Auxvasse Creative Arts Program.

“We’re just excited to do it,” said the district’s business manager, and daughter of Mr. O’Donley, Kellie O’Donley. “It’s a great way to lessen the burden for parents.”

Especially in the wake of generosity from district voters, who approved Propositions N and C at the polls in April of this year, approving a 25 cent tax levy bump. Benefits of the passage includes - but is not limited to  - raises for staff members and the construction of a new elementary at the main Kingdom City campus. 

Schubert died in 2021 and among his active community life, he was a member of the Auxvasse Lions Club. O’Donley died in November 2023 and was a founding member of the North Callaway Volunteer Fire Department among other community contributions.

The Auxvasse Creative Arts Program will pick up the tab on district art supplies, and when added to funds from the bank and memorials, the effort is a true collaboration. News is music to the ears of kids and parents alike and the announcement has gotten a lot of traction on social media, with the post reaching over 35,000 people soon after it was posted. A uniform supply list was compiled and is currently being fulfilled, with materials arriving en masse. The plan is to sort everything in July and to have moved to respective school buildings by the end of July.

“It’s a lot of stuff,” O’Donley said. “I’m ordering 2,000 glue sticks!”

Finding room for items, like the 2,500 pocket folders, aforementioned glue sticks and 2-inch 3-ring binders led to the inevitable challenge as staffers have had to establish staging areas.

“We thought, ‘Oh my goodness, where are we keeping all this stuff?’” O’Donley said.

Lists were compiled based on expressed needs in conjunction with enrollment estimates. News has spread, and has inspired other schools who have expressed interest in using Callaway as a template for similar endeavors.

“We’ve had other districts reach out,” O’Donley said. “They want to do the same thing.”

O’Donley stresses there is no cost to the district and points to the integral role their local bank played through their program.

“Two percent back on every purchase adds up really quick,” she said. “They’ve always been huge supporters of North Callaway.”

It is hoped that the program can pick up where it left off in the 2025-26 school year. Anyone wishing to donate can contact the district through the central office or any of the individual campuses: Williamsburg, Hatton-McCredie, North Callaway or Auxvasse. 

Online, contributions can be made through the School Supply Project on the district’s website.