Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr Eunice Sanders.
Hi Dr Eunice, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When I reflect on the last 20 years of Crayons2Calculators (C2C), I am always amazed by how a relatively simple idea has grown into a system that can benefit every Durham Public School (DPS) classroom. In 2025-26, we provided over $201,000 in school supplies to 2400+ DPS educators and support staff. That’s pencils, paper, rulers, whiteboards, and so many other essential items educators and families don’t have to pay for.
Today, our work for DPS has only gotten stronger as part of the DPS Foundation (DPSF), an independent organization dedicated to sustaining the Durham public school ecosystem for educators, students, and families. We joined DPSF in January 2025 as a way to strengthen our support for educators and DPS as a whole. It’s been a tremendous collaboration.
As we reflect on our milestone year, we recognize that it took many hands to get us here.
Many people may not know that C2C actually began in 2006 as a project in Professor Tony Brown’s leadership class at Duke University. A small group of students partnered with community leaders to test a really practical idea: what if teachers could access the basic supplies their students need—freely and consistently?
By the end of that semester, they had already hosted their first supply giveaway at E.K. Powe Elementary. Former Durham mayor and founding C2C board member, Steve Schewel, recently told me and my DPSF colleagues about watching teachers walk into the cafeteria filled with pencils, paper, glue sticks, and binders and asking: “These are really free?”
That moment really captures why this work matters.
Meanwhile, the now-Durham Regional Association of Realtors (DRAR) was hosting a yearly Fill The Bus! school supply drive—an initiative they launched 25 years ago in 2001. Real estate broker Michelle Stanback spearheaded and founded the drive as chair of the Durham Public Schools Education Committee.
When the committee learned of C2C’s expanding infrastructure, they saw a potential partnership and eventually transferred the school supply drive to C2C. Through the work of C2C, the outreach, now called Fill That Bus!, has expanded from 35 business participants to over 240 engaged community partners throughout the Triangle. DRAR continues to be a steadfast contributor.
It truly is remarkable to see how far C2C has come. Even as things have evolved—from pop-up giveaways to a warehouse model to now an online ordering system—the heart of our work hasn’t changed. We’re still making sure teachers have what they need so they can focus on preparing their students for lasting success. That’s what has carried this work for two decades.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a straight path, and that’s part of what makes the story real.
In the early days, as Steve Schewel and others have told me, there was a lot of trial and error. The original model—delivering supplies directly to schools—just wasn’t sustainable, so the organization shifted to a warehouse model where teachers could come and get what they need. That was a big turning point.
There were also some tough moments along the way. When I’m walking around our current warehouse, I’ll look up and think about how Steve told me, in one of the early warehouse spaces, a roof leak destroyed a large portion of donated supplies. When you’re relying on community donations, that kind of setback hits hard, but it also pushed Crayons2Calculators (C2C) to rebuild stronger.
Another challenge has been continuity. Since this started as a student-led effort, it could have easily lost momentum over time. Instead, the Durham community of educators, volunteers, and local businesses really stepped in and created the stability to keep it growing.
More recently, the challenges have looked different. During COVID, when I served as C2C’s executive director, we had to completely rethink how we operated, which led to shifting to an online ordering system. That change actually expanded access in a big way, especially for middle and high school teachers who previously had a harder time getting to the warehouse during store hours because of their afterschool duties. We like to think of ourselves as Amazon for teachers but for free!
And now, being part of Durham Public Schools Foundation has helped address another long-standing challenge—sustainability. It’s allowed us to build on 20 years of work while ensuring this program can continue to grow and serve every classroom in the district.
At the end of the day, what keeps this going is that the community can see the impact. It’s tangible. It’s immediate, and it’s something people really believe in. And that’s made all the difference through every challenge.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Crayons2Calculators (A program of the Durham Public Schools Foundation)?
At its core, Crayons2Calculators (C2C) is about making sure teachers and students have what they need to succeed, no matter what.
We equip Durham Public Schools (DPS) teachers with essential classroom supplies at no cost to them. That might sound simple, but the impact is huge. Every year, teachers are spending hundreds of dollars out of their own pockets just to make sure their classrooms function. What we do is step in to remove that burden, so they can focus on teaching instead of worrying about whether their students have pencils, paper, or basic materials.
We’ve been doing this work since 2006, and now, as a program of DPS Foundation, we’re able to go even further. Being part of the Foundation allows us to connect this work to a larger ecosystem of support for educators, students, and families, whether that’s grants, community partnerships, or broader investment in our public schools.
What really sets us apart is how accessible and community-driven the model is. Teachers can easily request what they need, and behind the scenes, it takes a whole network of volunteers, partners, and supporters to make that happen. During the 2025-2026 school year, volunteers dedicated over 4100 hours of their time to this work. It’s a true community effort.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is the trust we’ve built. Teachers know they can count on us. The community knows that when they donate supplies or volunteer their time, it’s going directly into classrooms and making an immediate difference.
As we celebrate 20 years, what I want people to know is that this isn’t just about school supplies. It’s about equity. It’s about showing up for our educators. And it’s about what can happen when a community comes together to support its public schools in a real, consistent way.
This is a wonderful time for the local community to get involved, as we will be launching our Fill That Bus! school supply drive from July 13 to August 14. This year will be our 25th celebratory anniversary. You can find more information at: bit.ly/fillthatbus26.
We also accept volunteers to assist with Fill That Bus!-related efforts every Tuesday or Thursday, financial donations, and, of course, donations of supplies.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
There are so many people who have contributed to making Crayons2Calculators what it is today, including:
+ Steve Schewel, Founding C2C board member and former Durham mayor
+ Tony and Teddie Brown, Duke professor and staff member (respectfully), who led the leadership course where C2C was born
+ Michelle Stanback, Realtor and first chair of the Durham Regional Association of Realtors (DRAR)’s Durham Public Schools Education Committee. She is considered the founder of Fill That Bus!
+ Sheila Willis, CEO of DRAR, who continues to be an avid C2C supporter
+ DPS Foundation for welcoming us into their organization
+ DPS teachers and principals for their ongoing support
+ And, of course, the local community members, business partners, and retired educators who volunteer, their time, talents and treasures
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bullcityschools.org/crayons2calculators
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bullcityschools
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bullcityschools
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/durham-public-schools-foundation
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@durhampublicschoolsfoundat7774
- Other: https://bit.ly/fillthatbus26
