Back-to-school costs can be challenging, but for families struggling financially, especially now more than ever, they can be crippling. United Way of the Wabash Valley is partnering with local school corporations to help ease the cost for families in our community.
The annual Stuff the Bus school supply donation drive is again virtual this year. A collaborative event among United Way of the Wabash Valley, Clay Community Schools, Marshall Community Unit School District, North Central Parke Community School Corporation, Northeast School Corporation, North Vermillion Community School Corporation, Rural Community Academy, South Vermillion Community School Corporation, Southwest School Corporation, and Vigo County School Corporation provides school supplies directly to local children in need. Visit www.uwwv.org/school by August 7th to select a school district of your choice and order from their customized Amazon Wish List. Supplies will be delivered directly to the school and distributed by school staff to families in need. If you don’t feel like shopping, monetary donations will be accepted thru the United Way’s Stuff the Bus website and the most needed supplies will be purchased for the school districts.
“One in five of our local children live in poverty, but having school supplies should not limit their academic success,” stated Richard Payonk, Executive Director of the United Way of the Wabash Valley. “School administrators tell us that children routinely show up to school without the basic tools they need to do their school work. Though it might be easy to think that a notebook, a pack of pencils, or markers are small when it comes to greater needs, being equipped with these tools has a profound impact on a students’ social, emotional, and academic performance. When a student has the right supplies for school – doors of possibility open.”
Payonk continued to explain, “United Way is committed to ensuring that all of our children have access to the basic foundation they need to succeed in school to help set them up for lifelong success. This program is one of many things we are doing to prepare youth to succeed which plays a vital role in our community goal of moving 10,000 families out of financial struggles and into stability.”
Help us Stuff the Virtual Bus by donating school supplies at uwwv.org/school to help ensure that local students start their school year with the necessary tools. All supplies will be distributed by the local school corporations to the children in need. Please contact the United Way office at 812-235-6287 if you need more information or would like to make a direct monetary donation.
