Elite DNA Behavioral Health launches Back-to-School Drive to support local nonprofits

FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 22, 2024) – Elite DNA Behavioral Health, a comprehensive behavioral and mental health care provider, is teaming up with United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades and Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida to host a Back-to-School Drive that will support local families in preparing for the upcoming school year.

Now through Thursday, Aug. 8, Elite DNA is collecting backpacks and school supplies at eight locations from Port Charlotte to Naples and is calling on the community for support. Elite DNA is requesting items for children of all ages, with a special focus on supplies for younger students. Accepted items include backpacks, crayons, scissors, dry erase markers, wired headphones, glue sticks, index cards, Kleenex, paper, folders with pockets and prongs and more. Cash donations and gift cards are also accepted for supplies to be purchased by Elite DNA staff.

“The back-to-school season can cause a lot of stress for parents and students. With costs of necessary items continuing to rise, families are left to decide what they can afford and what they can live without,” said Elizabeth Dosoretz, LCSW, founder and CEO of Elite DNA Behavioral Health. “This sense of worry not only affects parents, but their children and their ability to focus on school as well. With the community’s help, we can ease the burden on families and help provide the supplies necessary for children to succeed this school year.”

According to the National Retail Federation’s annual Back-to-Class Survey, families plan to spend an average of $875 on back-to-school supplies this year.

United Way’s mission as a volunteer-driven organization is to improve the quality of life for all people in the community. In the 2023-2024 school year, over $1.95 million in school supplies, school clothing, shoes and hygiene supplies were distributed to students in need within The School District of Lee County through United Way.

“United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades believes that setting a student up for success begins with providing the right resources and support. By fostering a community that values education and empowerment, we ensure that every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential,” said Jeannine Joy, president and CEO, United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades.

One of United Way’s partner agencies, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida, is a nonprofit providing a coordinated response to child victims of abuse and neglect across Lee, Hendry, Glades, and Charlotte counties. School supplies are given to children and families ahead of the school year to ensure students are prepared to head back to school.

“Our annual backpack event aims to serve 250 families each year at our East Fort Myers United Way Resiliency Hub,” said Alicia Shannon, executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida. “Companies like Elite DNA make a huge difference for our clients and the community. Education is the key to success and taking away the burden of having to buy school supplies is one barrier that we can remove for our families.”

To support these nonprofits in their efforts to prepare local families for the new school year, the community is invited to drop off donations of school supplies at any Elite DNA location between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays. Participating Elite DNA locations include:

• Cape Coral: 2721 Del Prado Blvd. S., Suite 200, 239-673-9034
• Estero: 9401 Corkscrew Palms Circle, 3^rd floor, 239-676-0608
• Fort Myers – Metro: 4310 Metro Parkway, Suite 205, 239-690-6906
• Fort Myers – Plantation: 6430 Plantation Park Court, Suite 200, 239-215-1025
• Lehigh Acres: 228 Plaza Drive, Suite D, 239-491-8204
• Naples: 2230 Venetian Court, Suite 1, 239-236-5448
• Port Charlotte: 3191 Harbor Blvd., Suites A-B, 941-883-4518
• Port Charlotte: 1777 Tamiami Trail, Suite 201, 941-249-4354

For more information, visit EliteDNA.com.

About Elite DNA Behavioral Health

Elite DNA Behavioral Health was founded in 2013 by Elizabeth Dosoretz, a licensed clinical social worker and mother of three, whose goal is to provide accessible, affordable mental health care to everyone. Now celebrating 10 years in business, Elite DNA is one of the largest mental health providers in the state, providing in-person and virtual behavioral health services to children, adolescents and adults at more than 30 locations across Florida. Services include psychiatry, psychology, medication management, substance use treatment, TMS therapy for depression, occupational therapy, speech therapy, applied behavior analysis and targeted case management services. Elite DNA accepts a large variety of insurances, including Medicaid/Medicare and has a self-pay sliding scale for established patients. For more information, visit EliteDNA.com.