The Education Foundation of Lake County is proud to recognize the generous local sponsors supporting its 2026 summer school supply drive. These vital community partnerships strengthen the Education Foundation’s mission to serve as the bridge between the community and Lake County Public Schools.
This year, we have over 40 collection site partners that have stepped up to support Lake County classrooms by donating school supplies. Many of these supplies get distributed through Apple-Mart, this is known across the district as the place where Lake County public school teachers can “shop” for free. These stores are open weekly throughout the school year to provide educators with essential classroom resources and student supplies. The impact of this program is massive: during the 2025-26 school year, teachers made 925 store visits, resulting in the distribution of $143,375 worth of free school supplies. Each shopping trip saves teachers an estimated $155, ensuring that students have the supplies they need to be better prepared in the classroom.
“The Education Foundation is excited for the renewed energy surrounding our Apple-Mart locations,” said Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, Executive Director of the Education Foundation. The Apple-Mart locations are also embracing data-driven upgrades this upcoming school year by digitally tracking both the supplies distributed and the exact financial impact of their locations. “We look forward to increasing the number of teachers who visit our stores and expanding the number of resources we provide across the entire district.”
The initial inventory for the Apple-Mart stores relies heavily on volunteers and community donations—most notably through the foundation’s annual summer school supply drive. This year, the summer campaign has been officially rebranded as Core Tools for Schools (formerly known in previous years as Red for Ed).
“We have more than 40 businesses and community organizations joining forces to collect school supplies through our newly rebranded Core Tools for Schools initiative,” shared Dr. Johnson. “Core Tools for Schools carries on the tradition of a friendly competition that encourages local businesses to collect essential resources. This ensures our Apple-Mart locations remain fully stocked so teachers and students have everything they need to start the school year off right.”
To wrap up the campaign and tally the community’s impact, the Education Foundation will host two events to officially weigh in the collected supplies. Both events will feature a festive community environment and local partners to celebrate the upcoming school year.
Community members and businesses can drop off donations at the following dates and locations:
- South Lake area weigh-in: Wednesday July 1, from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM at Minneola City Hall; Location: 800 US 27, Minneola FL 34715
- North Lake area weigh-in: Thursday July 2, from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM at Cecil Clark Chevrolet; Location: 8843 US 441, Leesburg FL 34788
“We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors Covenant Roofing, Cecil Clark Chevrolet and City of Minneola for their generous support of these supply drive events,” said Kacey Edmondson, Donor Development Specialist at the Foundation. “Their commitment to public education demonstrates a shared belief in the power of community to positively impact students and teachers. Their sponsorship ensures that we can continue to celebrate the incredible work happening in Lake County Schools as we kick off another successful school year.”
About the Education Foundation of Lake County
Established in 1987, the Education Foundation of Lake County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the designated direct-support organization for Lake County Schools. Its mission is to serve as the connection between the community and public education—evaluating needs and securing resources to enhance the quality of education for local students and teachers through impactful programs, grants, and essential services like the Apple-Mart stores. For more information on how to participate in the Core Tools for Schools drive, please visit www.edfoundationlake.com
