FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Stuff the Buss with school supplies

Second Saturday joins "Project School Tools" campaign

Chillicothe, OH (April 4, 2009)

Making sure every child is prepared for school is a big job! To get it done, more than a dozen local service agencies and civic organizations are working together to collect school supplies for “Project School Tools,” an annual drive to benefit families in need.

“Stuff the Bus” is a special, one-time collection this weekend at the “Second Saturday” Community Collection Drive, sponsored by United Way of Ross County and “James 218.”

“Second Saturday”
August 8
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Parking lot at 30 East Main Street
Convenient!   Drive through & Drop off

Please donate:

• Backpacks – especially needed!
• Pencils, pens, markers, crayons, paper, school boxes, tissues
• Notebooks, scissors, rulers, calculators, protractors
• Binders, folders, filler paper, glue, index cards   

“We are encouraging everyone in the community to join us as we  ‘stuff the bus’ – a small school bus - with school supplies that will be distributed to  elementary, middle and high school students before school starts,” says Mary Elsass, executive director, United Way of Ross County.

With more families needing help this year, the goal is to provide supplies for 700 children. “United Way has provided grant funds to purchase 100 backpacks, but many more will be needed to ensure each child is equipped,” she added.

The school supplies will be distributed to eligible families at the Project School Tools “Back to School Blast" on August 18, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Salvation Army.  To qualify, parents or guardians should bring medical cards or other documents verifying children, residence, and any household income.

The “Second Saturday” Community Collection is a seasonal outreach, co-sponsored by United Way of Ross County and James 218, a local ministry, that seeks and collects donations to meet the needs of local service agencies and their clients.