×

Back to School

Organizations across the Mid-Ohio Valley have begun their efforts to ensure all local kids start the school year with the supplies they will need. Back-to-school time is filled with all kinds of jitters, for both kids and parents, but folks like United Way Alliance Executive Director Joyce Mather understand some kids have more to worry about than others.

“We do this project to relieve the anxiety of area children who are scared and nervous about starting school because they don’t have the supplies they need to be successful,” she said.

So, beginning next week, Community Resources Inc. will serve as the distributors for 1,000 backpacks that have been stuffed with items for school-aged children in need, including school supplies and a dental pouch from Every Smile Matters.

Meanwhile, WV Central Credit Union is working to Stuff the Bus by parking a bus – Wednesday in the Fruth parking lot in Belpre; July 29 at Office Depot in Parkersburg – that can be stuffed with donated school supplies for distribution in Wood County and Belpre City schools.

In the case of the Stuff the Bus program, supplies are distributed directly through teachers because “they know, better than anyone, who needs it,” according to WV Central Credit Union public relations coordinator Lisa Collins. This plan also means teachers can hold on to stockpiles for distribution later in the school year, when some kids have begun to run out of their earlier allotted supplies.

Both programs, and others like them, mean Mid-Ohio Valley residents have a chance to make a very small sacrifice to help school children in need get a big boost in the new school year. Anyone who can find a way to donate money or supplies, or help with the distribution, should consider it an opportunity to be part of the hand up some of our local kids desperately need.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today