United Way to host annual school supply giveaway in Cass County
Published 9:27 am Friday, August 12, 2016
United Way of Southwest Michigan is helping to ensure children enter school ready to learn by providing 1,000 free backpacks with age-appropriate school supplies to low-income families in Cass County.
The ninth annual Cass County School Supply Spectacular will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 at Brookside Learning Center (61682 Daily Rd., Cassopolis) and Wednesday, Aug. 24 at Marcellus United Methodist Church (197 West Main St., Marcellus).
The backpacks will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis to low-income families in Cass County. All children must be accompanied by an adult and adults must bring their children to this event in order to receive backpacks.
The Feeding America Mobile Food Pantry Truck will be at the Brookside Learning Center on Saturday, Aug. 20, and we will have enough food for the first 360 families that attend the event.
“The need in Cass County is great,” said Anna Murphy, UWSM president. “More than half of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch and it’s estimated that there are almost 200 students who are homeless.”
Volunteers are needed to help organize supplies on Tuesday, Aug. 16, pack backpacks on Friday, Aug. 19, and assist in distribution on Saturday, Aug. 20. Sign up at www.uwsm.org/school-supply-spectacular.
For just $20, people can sponsor a backpack by “Adopting-A-Student” and corporate sponsorships are still being accepted. To sponsor a student visit the United Way Website at http://www.uwsm.org/school-supply-spectacular or contact Sharon Polfus at (269) 982-1700 ext. 17.
At the Brookside location, the School Supply Spectacular also features a mini service fair so that families know what additional resources are available to them in the community.
The event is a collaborative effort between United Way of Southwest Michigan and the Lewis Cass ISD. This event would not be possible without the support of: St Denys Foundation, McLoughlin Family Foundation, Michigan Gateway Community Foundation, Wolverine Mutual Insurance Company, Edward Lowe Foundation and Chemical Bank.
