News

Coral & Blue Paper Co., a children’s stationery company, is on a mission to encourage gratitude, thoughtfulness and creativity by helping continue the tradition of writing Thank You notes.  After forging a relationship with a school in Africa, the company has recently gained support from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Saratoga Springs to boost the school’s charitable efforts.

Named for the colors of classic elementary lines, creator Ashely Campbell designed the stationery after searching the market unsuccessfully for a product that met the needs of elementary-aged children. Available online and in various stores around the region, Coral & Blue went global after connecting with a school in Burundi, Africa, providing their students with Coral & Blue’s signature spacious and elementary-lined stationery for their lessons. With access to these supplies, they are practicing penmanship, reading, writing, art, and public speaking using the cards.

As part of the company’s mission to help the school, Coral & Blue provided paper stationery supplies to its students in a country where blank paper is a novelty. The school’s lessons soon incorporated these notes and messages using Coral & Blue’s stationery as part of the healing process for children who have been traumatized by violence, something that is unfortunately very prevalent in the region where the school is located.

Over the last year, this partnership has evolved from providing the school with stationery in their native language to delivering a fully sponsored school program attended by more than 5,000 children supplying drinks, food, school supplies to the attendees at the cost of approximately $2,500. Last Christmas, Coral & Blue also provided supplies and small gifts to the children purchased in-country to help support local economies. 

“I’m incredibly grateful to St Paul’s, who has allowed us to take our charitable efforts in Burundi to the next level,” said Campbell. “The people of Burundi stole my heart from day one and it has been such an honor to learn about the country and its beautiful people through this connection,” said Campbell. “The plan was always to create a charity to support the school and the families of this region and it is humbling to see the impact we have made in the short amount of time we have engaged with them. I’m excited to see how this mission develops with all of the support we have recently received from our new partner.” 

This holiday season, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Saratoga Springs supports Coral & Blue’s Burundi Mission by continuing to provide support to the school. The public can donate to the mission by clicking on the church’s giving portal. Donations are also accepted by mail or church drop-off, located at 149 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs. Please include a note that the donation is for the Mission to Serve.