ASHLAND — An estimated 600 children throughout Ashland County will need assistance with school supplies for the start of the 2016-17 school year. For the ninth consecutive year United Way of Ashland County will sponsor its “Stuff the Bus” initiative to meet the needs of these children that can’t afford them.
The big yellow school bus will be parked at the Walmart parking lot on two Saturday, Aug. 6 and 13, from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. to have donated school supplies placed on the bus.
People who can’t make it to “Stuff the Bus” days can drop off supplies at the United Way office at 132 W. Main St. (Lower level of FirstMerit Bank) between 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. People can also make a donation to help purchase school supplies by making or delivering a check payable to Stuff the Bus/United Way of Ashland County or by going to www.uwashlandoh.org and click on the donate tab to locate the “Stuff the Bus” contribution site.
The Farmers and Savings Bank locations are also collecting school supplies as a United Way “Stuff the Bus” site. A school bus will be in the Loudonville bank parking lot from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13 to collect school supplies from the southern part of Ashland County.
The most needed school supplies include boxes of crayons, rulers, glue sticks, washable Crayola markers, pocket folders, pens, Kleenex, hand sanitizer, scissors, yellow highlighters, erasable pens, notebook paper, spiral notebooks, colored pencils, stick notes, school boxes and regular markers for older kids. Three items of emphasis for this school year are dry erase markers, three-ring binders and pocket folders with brad inserts.
All donations will be delivered to Associated Charities for distribution to students in need starting Monday, Aug. 8 through Friday, Aug. 19 from 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.
For more information on “Stuff the Bus” call United Way of Ashland County at 419-281-5551.
