Back-to-school costs can be challenging, but for families struggling financially, 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, Casey-Westfield Community Schools, North Central Parke Community School Corporation, Northeast 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 Wal-Mart registry. 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. “We hear 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 student’s social, emotional, and academic performance. When a student has the right supplies for school – doors of possibility open.”
Payonk continued explaining, “This program plays a part in our vital community goal of moving 10,000 families out of financial struggles and into stability. The United Way is committed to preparing youth to succeed by 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.”
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.
