North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Secretary Reid Wilson visited Bladen County’s Tar Heel School on September 10 to deliver school supplies collected by DEQ staff. The donation, consisting of 26 boxes, was part of Governor Stein’s 2025 School Supply Drive, an annual initiative organized in partnership with the State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU).
The statewide drive involves the Office of the Governor, Cabinet agencies, and SECU’s network of branches to gather and distribute supplies to all public school districts in North Carolina. The effort aims to support students and educators across the state.
“DEQ employees were eager to support teachers and students through this school supply drive, and it’s great to have a chance to talk with students about clean air, clean water and clean energy,” said DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson.
Tar Heel School serves pre-K through eighth grade students and began operating last year. The campus includes solar panels, a geothermal HVAC system, and five electric school buses. It is designed to generate more energy than it uses.
During his visit, Wilson read a book on recycling to kindergarteners and discussed renewable energy sources with middle school students.
