More than 500 new backpacks, 1,700 spiral notebooks, 1,000 boxes of crayons, and nearly 6,000 pencils are among more than $37,000 worth of school supplies donated this year by area businesses, service organizations, and individuals.

The amount received is an all-time high for Communities In Schools of Puyallup (CISP), which has partnered with the Puyallup School District the past eight years to coordinate the drive for local students in need.

Jan Mauk, executive director of CISP, shared the results of this year’s record high supply drive with the Puyallup School Board in October.

Mauk gave examples of the donations that have provided students with basic supplies to achieve in school this year.

She also introduced representatives from some of the many area businesses and organizations that supported this year’s drive. She added that 18 community volunteers helped sort and inventory more than 23,000 school supplies.

“Some students come to school lacking the tools they need to be successful in school,” Mauk told the school board. “This is just an incredible outpouring of generosity from our community, and we are very thankful for all of the donations.”

In a related effort to help students in need, Mauk said Fred Meyer store in downtown Puyallup contributed 1,174 “Bags of Love” filled with $5 worth of kid-friendly food purchased by customers. The bags are given to students on Fridays this year to assure they have food over the weekend.