Broken Arrow Police Hosts School Supplies Drive

Broken Arrow police officers are getting ready for their annual Back-to-School Bash this weekend and you still have time to help.

Dr. Malaki Bolton's office is filled with crayons lining the walls, backpacks on every seat, and markers stacked as high as chairs. 

“If we can just put a backpack on their back and inspire them to be the change in the future and to really be that hand that reaches down I just really think that when we’re successful when we’ve been shown favor it’s our responsibility to reach the hand out to other people in need," said Dr. Bolton.

He said getting involved in the Broken Arrow Police Department's Back-to-School Bash is personal. 

“Many years ago when I was a child who needed help, himself and my family really needed somebody to step up to the plate and help us with things like this. Give backs and school supplies and just the necessities to get by," said Dr. Bolton.

The backpacks from his office will be taken to the Broken Arrow Police and Fire Complex for the school supply drive and the rest of the supplies will go straight to Assembly Church. Last year's event helped more than a thousand families.  

“There are so many families that are really in need of school supplies this year because of the pandemic and a lot of families are going back to school in-person and they need some help," said Ethan Hutchins, Community Outreach Coordinator for BAPD. 

Hutchins said this is the 15th year for the Back-to-School Bash, but it's the first year the department has held a drive before the event. 

“To bring our own school supplies that the very generous people in Broken Arrow have donated to the department to be able to bring that to the church and hand it out to the kids, it goes a long way," said Hutchins.

You can drop off supplies at the Police and Fire Complex until 11 p.m. Thursday night or from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Friday.

You can find the donation bus outside the Broken Arrow Police Department