Sunshine Cares: 'Back to School' Volunteer Day

Sunshine Water Services (SWS) staff and leadership recently took off to spend an afternoon working for a good cause.  

The SWS contingent volunteered at Tools 4 Seminole Schools, a “free” teacher resource store in Sanford. The program is among several funded by the Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools, a nonprofit dedicated to improving student achievement in the district.  

In addition to time and labor, Sunshine Water also donated materials collected through its own back-to-school supply drive and a financial contribution to the Foundation.  

“It’s so important that we have business partners like Sunshine Water, who want to come in and support our students and our public school system,” said Jean Vansmith, Executive Director of the Foundation (pictured here with SWS President Seán Twomey). “Our mission is to ensure that every student shows up at school ready to learn regardless of their background.” 

According to the Foundation, over half of Seminole County’s student population qualifies for the free or reduced meals program. Tools 4 Seminole Schools collects and distributes school supplies and classroom materials to aid teachers— who often spend hundreds of dollars of their own money on these items— and low-income parents.  

For Sunshine Water, the back-to-school volunteer day and donation marked the start of Sunshine Cares— a year-round community service initiative whose objective is to make a difference in our service areas through assisting nonprofits, acts of goodwill, volunteerism, etc.