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Volunteers stuff the bus

By J.T. Whitehouse 2 min read
Amy Witman checks her list as Jordan Rogers selects the appropriate pencil box for his book bag. The two were among the 45 volunteers from Huntington Bank and Great Clips who stuffed backpacks full of supplies during Tuesday’s Stuff the Bus event at United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley’s Volunteer Resource Center, 8133 Market St. in Boardman. The supplies will go to students at Youngstown Christian School, Hubbard Local School District, Jackson-Milton Local School District and Valley Christian School.

BOARDMAN -- For the 16th consecutive year, Huntington Bank partnered with United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley to help local students start the school year with the supplies they need to be successful.

On Tuesday, 45 volunteers from the bank and Great Clips gathered at the United Way Volunteer Resource Center in Boardman to stuff 480 of the 2,000 backpacks planned for this year's effort.

"We have people calling us in the spring to request help," said United Way Director of Community Impact Kieley Rapp. "We get donations coming in from everywhere."

At Tuesday's event, school supplies were brought in and arranged as an assembly line. Each volunteer received a backpack and a list for one student's needed supplies. The lists may call for pencil boxes or pouches for older students. It may have wide-ruled paper or college-ruled, crayons, pencils and/or pens.

The schools receiving the book bags have been identified by the United Way as schools with students who needed the supplies. Book bags filled on Tuesday are going to Youngstown Christian School, Hubbard, Jackson-Milton and Valley Christian. Approximately 10 bags will be held at the Boardman location and in Youngstown in case someone else needs it.

"Preparing students for a successful school year starts with making sure they have the basic tools they need on day one. Huntington Bank is proud to continue this partnership with United Way because we know these backpacks will make a real difference for local families," said Sam Huston, Mahoning Valley Market President of Huntington Bank. "Investing in our students today is an investment in the future of our communities."

Also supporting the effort to provide the school supplies were Cocca's Pizza and WFMJ-TV 21. Cocca's provided pizza at lunchtime for the volunteers. Throughout August, Great Clips and Cocca's Pizza locations will raise funds to help purchase additional school supplies for area children.

"Every backpack represents more than school supplies -- it represents a community coming together to support a child's success," said Bob Hannon, President of United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley. "We're thankful for Huntington Bank's continued commitment and for all our partners who make Stuff the Bus possible. Together, we're helping thousands of students walk into the classroom ready to learn and thrive."

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