DENVER -

Larry H. Miller Dealerships announced Wednesday that it collected nearly $23,500 in school supplies during the company’s “Stuff for Students” campaign this summer.

 Throughout August, 11 participating LHM dealerships’ stuffed a vehicle with much-needed school supplies.

In partnership with 9News, Volunteers of America Colorado Branch (VOA) and other business partners, the company collected enough supplies to benefit 60,000 students last month.

“We are fortunate to have a great team of partners like Larry H. Miller Dealerships who come together to support 'Stuff for Students' every year,” Volunteers of America Colorado Branch director of volunteer programs Bradley Gulley said in a news release.

“Thanks to the donations from Larry H. Miller Dealerships, their employees, and their customers, families can focus on school and not the financial burden of the cost of school supplies. These contributions will make a real difference in the communities we serve,” he continued.

Since 2015, LHM has donated an estimated $50,000 in school supplies, according to the group.

The cost of school supplies continues to increase and parents can often spend over $900 on supplies for a high school-aged student, according to VOA.

In the counties served by VOA, approximately 23 percent of the 743,255 students live in poverty, compared to the state average of just 14.7 percent, the organization said. 

The supplies from the “Stuff for Students” campaign go to students within more than 15 school districts who are in low-income households or homeless.

Additionally, just before the school year began for students, LHM also gifted a $5,000 grant to Operation Outreach-USA at Coronado Hills Elementary School to provide 450 books. The program aims to improve reading proficiency among students in kindergarten through fourth grade in low income and poor-performing schools.