PSTA Helps Prepare Local Students for School

Four bins filled with school supplies were donated to St. Petersburg's Melrose Elementary School Friday, courtesy of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA).

Through PSTA's Operation Giveback, employees filled bins with notebooks, binders, pens, and pencils.

PSTA employees decided to host the school supply drive as an opportunity to give back to the community.

"The donations came directly from bus operators, mechanics, and all of the other hardworking members of our team here at PSTA," said Tamika White, PSTA Employee Training and Engagement Generalist. "This was something they wanted to do."

Melrose Elementary Principal Nanette Grasso accepted the donation on behalf of the students at the school's Meet-the-Teacher event Aug. 20.

"We are thankful that PSTA has been so generous to us here at Melrose," Grasso said. "This is really about being there as a community for the students."

PSTA also donated bus passes to the school which were raffled off to parents at the event.

"Transit matters to this school," said Grasso, "and it's an essential part of this community."