SM STORE CSR SHOP & SHARE TO BRIDGE ACCESS TO EDUCATION

MANILA, Philippines. SM Store, with the continuous support of its loyal shoppers, aims to foster the value of giving back to the community through an act of kindness, that is donating notebooks.

Last January 2023, the Philippines’ Department of Education released the Basic Education Report indicating that one of the most pressing issues in the basic education system is the lack of access to resources – a challenge that was further heightened during the time of the global pandemic.

Among many school materials, notebooks still remain one the most vital tools in learning. According to a study by the Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College, the notebook system provides an organizational structure for students. This is particularly important for students who may lack the ability to know how to best organize their information and thoughts.

With this, SM Store launched an initiative to help underprivileged students who have little to no capacity to procure basic school materials – such as notebooks. Shop & Share to Bridge Access to Education is a donation drive wherein customers can sponsor a kid’s school kit with any valid transaction including any item from the SM Stationery section. For only P99, a school kit containing seven (7) notebooks will be donated to the students of ten (10) public elementary schools across the country. In order to guarantee that the donated school kits will be utilized by students who need them most, SM Store is collaborating with SM Foundation for the proper identification of the school beneficiaries. With sixty-nine (69) participating SM Stores nationwide, this initiative presents an extensive outlet for shoppers to donate and for SM to ensure that its coverage can benefit rural areas and underserved communities.

In a statement, Mr. Dhinno S. Tiu, Executive Vice President of SM Store, expressed the purpose behind this initiative:

“SM Store has been the top-of-mind go-to place for parents and students every back-to-school season. Thus, we also want to be an ideal channel to bridge access to education to those who need it most by working together with our customers. Shop&Share for Education aims to bring school kits to almost fourteen thousand (14,000) grade school pupils in partnership with SM Foundation.”

This initiative reinforces SM Store’s commitment to advocate for community development while involving its customers. By donating notebooks, customers will have a special platform to give a student an opportunity to have a better learning experience. A gesture of generosity, however small, will surely leave a lasting impact on the lives of these children and their families. ### (PR)

Shop at your favorite SM Store from August 1 to 31, 2023, and support a student in need. With just P99, you can help young Filipino learners realize their dreams. Together with (the) SM Store, the fire of knowledge will remain burning – allowing the children to have a brighter future. (Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-172683, Series of 2023)