Office Depot gives $4K to East Brainerd Elementary School

One local retailer donated more than $4,000 to an area campus as part of its “round-up” fundraiser.

Chattanooga-based Office Depot employees and customers raised $4,055.50 for East Brainerd Elementary.

The school was severely damaged by an EF3 tornado that struck Chattanooga on Easter Sunday.

Repair costs were estimated to be at least $18 million. Last month, the school district approved a $5.5 million construction budget

increase, making the total reconstruction cost $23.5 million. District officials expect students and teachers to move back into the remodeled school by January 2021.

On Oct. 8, Office Depot General Manager Charles Ayres presented the check to the school’s administration.

Principal Saunya Goss told the Times Free Press the school remains overwhelmingly grateful for the support it received from businesses like Office Depot. She added the funds will address student and staff needs “in anticipation of our return to our school building in January.”

“I am grateful to each of the five Office Depots and their customers for their financial support through the company’s Round It Up program over the past two months. This kind of support not only provides us with funds to support our students and staff, but is also a morale-boosting reminder that our community continues to look out for us. Thank you to Office Depot and its customers for this generous donation and their support of East Brainerd Elementary.”