Help 'Stuff the Bus' in Blair County

Every child has the right to school success but just as important as a good healthy breakfast, enough sleep, and a top rate education, are the tools that are used on a daily basis in the classroom and at home.  That is why the United Way of Blair County  and the Local Education and Resource Network  (LEARN - this program was not funded in the 2012 PA budget, so we are in the process of determining how we can continue its good efforts.) support children and families through its Fourth Annual Stuff the Bus School Supply Campaign.  The Stuff the Bus program focuses on United Way's work in the area of education and school readiness.  

Making sure that families have access to necessary school supplies is just one of the ways United Way of Blair County is working to make a positive impact on education in our community.  We fund pre-school programs at local YMCAs, mentoring programs like Big Brothers, Big Sisters, after school programs like the Gloria Gates Memorial  Program, summer camps like Stepping Stones for Life and Home Visitation Programs like Nurse Family Partnership.  We also sponsor the Family Resource Center that offers a home visitation program called Parent as Teachers.

Kindergarten readiness is one of the major predicting factors to school success and to success later in life. Did you know that if a child enters kindergarten unprepared to learn that his chances of either repeating a grade, dropping out of high school, or going to prison increase dramatically? And that he is 3 times less likely to be financially independent as an adult? Not only that, but children who are behind hinder the teacher's ability to effectively help other students reach their full potential.

Last year, through generous donations from the community, the campaign helped 434 students in Blair County get the start they needed to succeed in school.   This year, the need is even greater, and with 500 children already signed up, the program is currently full. 

Supplies still needed include: 

• backpacks
• pencils
• pens
• crayons
• markers
• colored pencils
• erasers
• pencil boxes
• glue sticks
• glue
• binders
• folders
• notebook paper
• notebooks

100% of supplies collected go to Blair County students.

This year's participants include:

Advanced Chiropractic, Altoona Area Public Library, Altoona Mirror, Begin With Us Child Care & Preschool, Bellwood- Antis Public Library, Boscov's Department Store, Child Advocates/Blair County Head Start, Cracker Barrel, Faith United Church of Christ, Hollidaysburg Area Public Library, Kids First /Lily Pond Child Development Center, Logan Valley Mall & the Style Club, N.E.W. Corporation, Roaring Spring Community Library, Senior Care Altoona, Tyrone-Snyder Public Library, Altoona Regional Health Systems, Altoona Sunrise Rotary, CONTACT Altoona, East End Youth Baseball League, Growth and Relationships of Young Professionals (of the Blair County Chamber of Commerce), General Cable, Roaring Spring Paper Products, and the United Way of Blair County.

Volunteers from Kohls and Target will help pack and distribute supplies. 

Donations may still be made at the United Way of Blair County and the Logan Valley Mall's Customer Service Desk.

For more details: http://wearecentralpa.com/fulltext-news?nxd_id=382122