Barclays Employees “Adopt” Harlan Classrooms

What started as one mother’s love for her children’s former elementary school turned into a powerful show of community support this week, as dozens of Barclays employees joined together to make a lasting impact on students and teachers at Harlan Elementary.

Spearheaded by Carrie Edwards, Vice President of Marketing at Barclays and proud Brandywine School District parent, the “Adopt-A-Classroom” initiative aims to directly support teachers by fulfilling their classroom wish-lists through Amazon. Now in its third year, the program selected Harlan Elementary as this year’s recipient, a choice especially meaningful to Edwards, whose three children all began their educational journeys there.

Working closely with Harlan’s School Social Worker, Nicole Stokes, Edwards invited teachers at Harlan to identify their classrooms’ unique needs and create individualized Amazon wish-lists. Once the lists were compiled, roughly 60 Barclays employees came together to “adopt” 40 classrooms, sponsoring those wish-lists and providing more than $20,000 worth of educational materials, classroom tools, hands-on learning supplies, and more.

On Tuesday, a team of 33 Barclays volunteers arrived at Harlan to sort, organize, and personally deliver dozens of Amazon packages to teachers throughout the school, filling classrooms with smiles, gratitude, and excitement at every stop.

“For these teachers, it’s not just a classroom,” Edwards shared. “It’s individual children that they care about. As a parent, I have witnessed firsthand the struggles that these teachers have and the passion that they give. In this district, they truly care. I’m proud that my kids got their start in the Brandywine School District.”

The effort reflects both the heart of Barclays’ community engagement and the enduring spirit of the Brandywine School District, where partnerships like this embody the district’s commitment to #StrongSchoolsStrongCommunity. By working hand-in-hand with local businesses and families, BSD continues to build a culture of collaboration, care, and shared purpose - ensuring every student and teacher has the support they need to thrive.