Aiken Elementary School received a $275 donation Monday from Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA to use for the purchase of school supplies and to cover the costs of other needs.
The nonprofit organization honored the school for collecting the most donations of any participating Aiken County elementary school - for the third year in a row - during a Goodwill donation drive.
This year's two-week drive in April collected 12,160 pounds of donations from 304 donors competing on behalf of Aiken, Belevedere, Chukker Creek, Clearwater, Gloverville, Hammond Hill, Jefferson, Mossy Creek and Warrenville elementary schools.
Goodwill made its donation to Aiken Elementary during a parent-teacher association meeting.
"We're grateful to the parents and children from all of these schools for their generosity during the Goodwill donation drive," said Jennifer Hart, Goodwill's Aiken community director. "Their individual donations of clothing and household items add up to provide Goodwill with the fuel for our education and career assistance programs - turning jeans into jobs."
Aiken Elementary is at 2050 Pine Log Road.
Last year, Aiken's Job Connection - funded by sales of donated goods in Goodwill retail training stores - served nearly 3,000 individuals seeking new or better employment and helped find jobs for more than 550 people.
Donors can continue to bring clothing, household items and small appliances to the Goodwill Donation Center at 1015 Pine Log Road or to the downtown Aiken donation center behind Aiken's First Baptist Church at 120 Chesterfield St. N.E.