Classrooms at Rainier Elementary School received a welcome boost this week as community volunteers Laura Immel and Victoria Cooper delivered hundreds of dollars’ worth of essential classroom supplies, purchased through the annual SMART Drive organized by We Love Rainier WA, a news release stated.
The Supplies, Materials And Resources for Teachers (SMART) Drive is a yearly initiative dedicated to ensuring educators have the tools they need to support student success. This year, We Love Rainier WA spent $1,400 to fulfill specific supply requests submitted directly by Rainier Elementary teachers.
By purchasing requested items rather than collecting random donations, the SMART Drive program ensures every dollar goes toward materials teachers will use immediately in their classrooms.
Immel and Cooper personally delivered the supplies, which included classroom basics such as pencils, notebooks, art materials, organization tools, and other resources that often come out of teachers’ own pockets.
Immel and Cooper are strong supporters of the Rainier School District. This project, along with Dictionaries for Third Graders, means a lot to Immel and Cooper, as they both went to school in Rainier and graduated from Rainier High School, according to a news release from the volunteers. Their mothers both attended school in Rainier as well. Immel taught school in Rainier and Cooper worked for the school district.
“This is one of our most meaningful projects each year,” Immel said. “Teachers give so much of themselves to their students, and this is one way our community can give something back.”
Cooper said the experience of delivering the supplies is always inspiring. “You can see the appreciation on the teachers’ faces,” she said. “It reminds us how much these small acts of support matter — not just for teachers, but for every student they serve.”
Teachers at Rainier Elementary expressed gratitude for the continued support, noting that programs like the SMART Drive help create richer learning environments and reduce the financial burden many educators quietly carry.
We Love Rainier WA has hosted the SMART Drive annually for several years, with funding made possible through community donations and local fundraising efforts, the release stated. The organization hopes to continue expanding the program in the future to meet growing classroom needs.
Residents interested in supporting future SMART Drives or other community initiatives can learn more through We Love Rainier WA’s outreach and volunteer programs at the FaceBook Group Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/weloverainierwa, by contacting George Johnson at 360-292-5363, or emailing weloverainierwa@gmail.com.
