Help United Way STUFF THE BUS
Summer break ends in a few weeks, with teachers and students returning to the classroom. Many children look forward to arriving on the first day of school with new notebooks, backpacks, pencil boxes, and crayons. However, back to school time can be a burden on many low income families in Northern Michigan. Some students won't have the school supplies they need, forcing many teachers to buy supplies using their own money.
The cost to families isn't negligible. According to National Retail Federation, the average family with children in grades K-12 will spend an average of $603.63 on school items this year. On Saturday, Aug. 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., school buses will be parked at Glens on Main Street Gaylord, the K-Mart on Otsego Ave., and WalMart on Dickerson Rd. courtesy of Gaylord Area Public Schools.
Shoppers are encouraged to pick up extra folders, pencils, possibly a box of crayons or a package of construction paper and help Otsego County United Way Stuff the Bus! Shoppers can get a list of suggested school supplies by contacting Otsego County United Way and at each Stuff the Bus location. The distribution of school supplies to students in need will be conducted through the three public school districts in the county; Gaylord, Johannesburg, & Vanderbilt Public Schools.
To make it easier for people to give, various stores throughout Otsego County will have drop-boxes available from August 1st through the 13th to collect school supplies from shoppers who would like to contribute to the effort. For a list of locations contact Otsego County United Way at 989-732-8929. Volunteers are needed to help staff the buses on August 13 and help sort what Otsego County United Way hopes is a bus load of school supplies on August 18. To volunteer, contact Carol at 989-705-8584.
Otsego County United Way is also accepting monetary donations to purchase school supplies for students in need. Donations should be mailed to Otsego County United Way, 116 E. Fifth St, Gaylord, MI 49735, with Stuff the Bus noted, or use one of the donation boxes available at the buses.
Come help Stuff the Bus!
