MyBinding.com Finds a Unique Way to Help Cash-Strapped Local Schools

Internet retailer MyBinding.com is helping out local schools by donating thousands of boxes of binding supplies.

HILLSBORO, OR, February 1, 2011 – MyBinding.com is one of the country’s leading online retailers of document finishing equipment and supplies. The company recently devised a way to help schools in the Portland area: donating boxes of plastic binding combs.

“We knew that schools were facing tight budgets,” said Mike Bocanegra, the Vice-President of Operations and Distribution for MyBinding.com. “We wanted to help and donating binding supplies seemed like the right way to go about it.”

The company has already distributed thousands of boxes of steel blue plastic binding combs to various Portland-area school districts. They include Portland Public Schools (8,000 boxes), Clackamas Education School District (9,000), Evergreen School District (4,000), David Douglas School (4,900) and Hillsboro School District (4,000). The free combs were advertised on Craigslist and MyBinding contacted local school officials directly.

Although most of the school districts accepted combs in pallet quantities, a number of individual schools and teachers requested smaller numbers of combs for use in their classrooms. With the massive budget cuts facing many local schools, principals are facing the reality that money may not be available for these types of supplies in coming years. With that in mind, some schools have requested a 2+ year supply of combs and have found places to store them.

“We’ve already distributed almost 30,000 boxes and we’re prepared to donate approximately 40,000 more,” said Bocanegra. “All schools need to do, is to give us a call and come pick them up.” We started out with more than 50 pallets of combs to donate and we still have more than half remaining. The total retail value of the combs is between $140,000 and $200,000.

The plastic combs come 12 to a box and are available in two sizes: 3/8” and 1/2”. The combs can be used for a variety of purposes including making workbooks, binding assignments and allowing students to publish their own literature. If schools are interested in the supplies, they can contact Bocanegra at 503-640-5920. The company’s office and warehouse are located at 1800 NE 25th Avenue, Suite 15 near the Hillsboro airport.