United Way helping kids prepare for school
During the first week of July, donation bins started popping up all over Greene County like daisies after a summer rain.
They found their way into 25 different locations including churches; Greene Arc, an agency that works with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; the First National Banks in Waynesburg and Rices Landing; Community Bank at two locations in Waynesburg and another in Carmichaels and the First Federal Savings and Loan in Waynesburg.
The bins are part of the Stuff the Bus program organized by the United Way of Greene County, which has gone on for the past 16 years.
“The bins are receptacles for donations of school supplies for children, things like backpacks, pens, pencils, book covers and tablets,” said MaChal Forbes, executive director of the United Way of Greene County.
On August 6, 7 and 8, Forbes will collect the donations and take them to the United Way office in Waynesburg. There a group of volunteers will meet on Monday, August 13 to fill the backpacks with the supplies as well as children’s books donated by the Flenniken Library of Carmichaels. The United Way is currently looking for additional volunteers to help stuff the backpacks and distribute them at a later date.
The backpacks will then be loaded on a school bus and driven to Lions Club Park in Waynesburg. There they’ll be distributed free of charge from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, August 15 to children in grades K-12 who pre-register by phoning 211. When pre-registering, parents or guardians must supply the child’s name, gender, age and school district.
The backpacks will be filled with supplies appropriate to the child’s age and gender. For younger children, for instance, the backpacks will contain items like crayons, coloring books, children’s scissors, markers and notebooks. For older students, the backpack will hold things like notebooks, binders, book covers, folders, pens and pencils. First Federal Savings and Loan is sponsoring the event and pledged to buy any additional purchases that might be needed.
“At the park, the students will be able to board the bus and pick the backpack they want,” Forbes said. “We’ll have boys backpacks on one side of the bus and girls on the other. The backpacks for the younger children will be at the front of the bus while those for the older students will be in the back.”
During the event, the Central Greene School District Summer Food Program will provide complimentary hot dogs, hamburgers and beverages for children. The Two Scoops Ice Cream truck will also be on hand. If United Way can find a sponsor, the ice cream will be free of charge. If not, Two Scoops will offer its products at a discounted rate.
The event will also feature children’s games, face painting and complimentary popcorn. Several of the United Way’s partnering agencies will also be on hand to pass out information, and parents will be able to sign up their children for the free lunch program.
Those who pre-register but are unable to make the event can come into the United Way office at 748 E. High St. in Waynesburg to pick up their backpack from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday after Aug. 15.
“Last year, we distributed 665 backpacks,” Forbes said. “For the past 16 years, we’ve had a success with the program and hope to continue it to serve the children of Greene County.”
For more information on the event, pre-registration, volunteering and to make a donation, phone 724-852-1009.