Graves McLain Injury Lawyers has once again demonstrated its commitment to local education by providing nearly 3,000 customized school supply packs to four high-need schools in the Tulsa and Union Public School systems. The initiative, which began in 2016 as the Free Backpack Program, has evolved over the years to meet the changing needs of students, schools, and families. This year, the firm adopted a more targeted approach, focusing on schools with significant student need that were not already receiving substantial support from other community programs.
The firm collaborated with local school representatives and participated in a community back-to-school coalition established by the Schusterman Family Foundation. This collaboration provided valuable insights into gaps in existing school supply assistance, allowing Graves McLain to identify schools with high free and reduced lunch rates that needed additional support. As a result, the 2026 initiative focused on Central High School, Will Rogers High School, Union 6th/7th Grade Center, and Union Freshman Academy.
Rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, Graves McLain purchased supplies based on each school's specific wish list. The 2,850 packs contained more than 24,000 items, including pencils, pens, composition notebooks, highlighters, notebook paper, folders, earbuds, glue sticks, markers, scissors, correction tape, and other classroom essentials. The distribution included 1,100 packs for Union 6th/7th Grade Center, 500 for Union Freshman Academy, 350 for Central High School, and 900 for Will Rogers High School.
The completed packs were hand-delivered to the schools in time for the new school year. Graves McLain partner Chad McLain met with faculty and staff to thank them for their work and reinforce the community's support for local educators and youth. Team members from Graves McLain and participants from Gatesway Foundation helped assemble the packs. Gatesway, which provides vocational training and enrichment programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, played a crucial role in assembling thousands of the supply packs. Graves McLain also made a donation to Gatesway in support of its programs, extending the initiative's impact within the community.
"Every year, we look at how we can make the greatest impact for local students and families," said Chad McLain. "This year, we had a better understanding of where there were still gaps in back-to-school support, which allowed us to focus our resources on schools with significant need and provide the specific supplies they told us would help their students most. Being able to support nearly 3,000 students while also supporting the work being done at Gatesway made this year's effort especially meaningful."
Over the past decade, Graves McLain's back-to-school efforts have ranged from direct school donations to large-scale community distribution events. The firm's 2026 approach reflects the same commitment that began with its Free Backpack Program in 2016: finding meaningful ways to help local students begin the school year prepared to succeed. For more information about Graves McLain Injury Lawyers and their community initiatives, visit www.gravesmclain.com.
