Back-to-school preparation brings significant financial pressure to families and educators across Montana. In Flathead County alone, over 16,000 students require essential classroom supplies each year. At the same time, national surveys show that teachers spend an average of $895 of their own money on supplies annually. Rising inflation and tight household budgets make stocking classrooms a mounting challenge for the entire community.
Local businesses play a vital role in stepping up to ease these burdens. Plumb-Rite Plumbing, a family-owned company serving Kalispell and the Flathead Valley since 2003, launched its annual "Clear the List" Back-to-School Sweepstakes to direct real financial support to local educators and parents. In this Executive Q&A, Emily Larsen, Co-Owner of Plumb-Rite Plumbing, discusses why a local plumbing company chose to invest in education, how the expanded campaign works, and what community-driven leadership looks like in practice.
Q: What inspired Plumb-Rite Plumbing to launch the "Clear the List" Back-to-School Sweepstakes for the Flathead Valley community?
Emily Larsen: We've been part of the Flathead Valley for more than twenty years, and so many of our customers are teachers and parents. Every summer we'd hear the same thing, back-to-school season is expensive, and it sneaks up fast. Teachers are filling supply lists out of their own pockets, and parents are juggling clothes, backpacks, and everything in between. We wanted to do something that took a little of that stress off people's shoulders. "Clear the List" started with a simple idea: our community takes care of us all year long, so this is one way we can take care of them back. The response to our first year told us we were onto something, and bringing it back this year was an easy decision.
Q: Back-to-school expenses affect both educators and parents. How has Plumb-Rite Plumbing expanded the sweepstakes this year to address those broader needs?
Emily Larsen: In our second year, we made a point of opening the sweepstakes to both sides of the classroom door. It wasn't just for teachers clearing their supply lists, any family with kids in kindergarten through 12th grade in the Flathead Valley could enter too. Back-to-school costs hit everyone, so we offered four $500 gift cards, which let us reach more households than we did in year one. Whether that money went toward classroom supplies or new shoes and backpacks for the kids, the goal was the same: making the start of the school year a little lighter.
Q: Teachers often pay for essential supplies out of pocket. What impact do you hope the four $500 gift cards will have on local classrooms?
Emily Larsen: Teachers give so much, and it's well documented that most of them spend hundreds of dollars of their own money every year on their classrooms. Our hope is that a $500 gift card means a teacher can stock up on the supplies their students actually need, without checking their personal bank account first. And the impact goes beyond one classroom. When a teacher isn't stretched thin covering the basics, that energy goes right back into the kids. If we can give even a few local classrooms that kind of head start, that's a win for the whole valley.
Q: Plumb-Rite Plumbing has served Kalispell and the surrounding area for over 20 years. Why is investing in local education a priority for a plumbing business?
Emily Larsen: Because we don't just work here, we live here. Our team's kids go to these schools, our customers are the parents in the pick-up line and the teachers in the classroom. Since 2003, this community has trusted us in their homes, and that trust is the reason we're still here twenty-plus years later. Supporting local education is one of the most direct ways to give back, because strong schools make a strong community. You don't have to be an education company to invest in education, you just have to care about the place you call home.
Q: How can teachers, parents, and local residents participate in or support this year's sweepstakes?
Emily Larsen: Entries for this year's sweepstakes ran from June 15 through July 17, and we announced our four winners at the end of July. Congratulations again to them! The response from the community was incredible, even bigger than our first year. And here's the good news for anyone who missed it: "Clear the List" will be back next summer. The best way to make sure you don't miss the next one is to follow us on Instagram at @plumbriteplumbingmt — our followers are always the first to know.
Q: Looking ahead, how does Plumb-Rite Plumbing plan to continue its community involvement beyond the back-to-school season?
Emily Larsen: "Clear the List" is officially an annual tradition now — two years in, and we're already looking forward to making next year's event even bigger. Beyond back-to-school season, we keep doing what we've always done: showing up for our neighbors year-round, whether that's through sponsorships, supporting local causes, or just being the company people can count on when they need us. We've been here for over twenty years, and we plan to be giving back for many more.
The "Clear the List" sweepstakes highlights how local businesses can directly address real economic challenges within their neighborhood schools. By providing four $500 gift cards to teachers and parents, Plumb-Rite Plumbing reduces out-of-pocket costs and equips classrooms for academic success. The initiative demonstrates that corporate responsibility works best when rooted in direct, community-level action.
Investing in education builds a stronger foundation for the entire Flathead Valley. As Plumb-Rite Plumbing continues to offer expert residential and commercial plumbing solutions, its commitment to local families and educators remains a core pillar of its operation. Supporting teachers and students today ensures a thriving, resilient community for years to come.
Get to know Plumb-Rite Plumber at plumbritemt.com and follow them on Instagram at instagram.com/plumbriteplumbingmt
