Tools for School Gets a Boost from Walmart Spark Good Grant

ECI Regional Planning District (ECIRPD) is proud to announce a successful collaboration with Hearts and Hands United, supported by a $2,000 community grant from Walmart Store #1665 in Muncie, Indiana. This funding, part of Walmart’s Spark Good initiative, will directly support the “Tools for School” program—an annual effort providing essential school supplies, backpacks, clothing, and shoes to students in Delaware County.

The grant was facilitated by ECIRPD to strengthen local educational support systems and ease the financial pressure many families face at the start of each school year. With leadership from Kay Walker and her team at Hearts and Hands United, this partnership aims to ensure every child—from preschool to 12th grade—can start school with the tools they need to succeed.

The Tools for School initiative is designed to remove barriers to learning by equipping students with basic supplies they might otherwise go without. The program not only helps children feel confident and prepared but also strengthens families and classrooms by ensuring opportunity and access.

Walmart’s Spark Good program empowers local stores and distribution centers to invest directly in organizations that make a difference in their own backyards. Through this initiative, stores can award cash grants ranging from a few hundred dollars up to $5,000, depending on local needs and impact. These grants are intended to celebrate and support organizations that are addressing specific challenges and opportunities in their communities.

To learn more about how you can support or benefit from the Tools for School program, visit http://www.heartsandhandsdelawarecounty.org/programs/