Today, July 30, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County will be picking up employee-donated, fully-stocked backpacks from Mission Health, who as been an important partner for United Way’s annual Back to School Supply Drive over the past few years.
This year, 300 filled backpacks are expected to be donated by the group to kids and teens in Asheville and Buncombe County, but the goal overall is to collect 1, 200 fully packed backpacks.
The backpacks, stocked and ready to go, will be picked up this afternoon at 3 p.m. in Mission Health’s main lobby.
Update: The final number of back packs picked up was 347.
Press release from Elisabeth Bocklet, director of Marketing and Communications for United Way:
Thursday, July 30, 3:00 p.m.
Mission Health, Main Lobby
Contact: Charlie Lee, 239-1032, Volunteer Manager Hands On Asheville-Buncombe/United Way of Asheville and Buncombe CountyUnited Way of Asheville and Buncombe County will pick up employee-donated, fully-stocked backpacks from Mission Health on July 30, 3:00 p.m. in the main lobby of the hospital. Mission’s team has been an integral part of United Way’s annual Back to School Supply Drive over the past several years. This year, they expect to donate 300 fully-stocked backpacks for kids and teens in Asheville and Buncombe County. Mission offers staff the option of employee payroll deduction, which is has increased participation the past two years.
The goal of the overall drive is to collect 1,200 backpacks fully stocked and ready to go. Backpacks will be distributed to students already being served by these local agencies: Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools (homeless and migrant student programs), Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC, Caring for Children, Children First/Communities in Schools of Buncombe County, Literacy Council of Buncombe County, YMCA/21st Century Program.
In addition, students not being served by one of these agencies can contact Jessica Stavish at The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club at 255-0266 to secure a backpack. Pickups will be arranged by appointment only.
With nearly 1 in 4 students in Buncombe County living in poverty, United Way’s drive and initiatives such as Middle School Success make sure all students have the tools and are ready to learn.
Additional partners in this year’s drive include Mix 96.5 and Ultimate Ice Cream. Asheville Savings Bank, Walmart, and YMCA of Western North Carolina served as drop-off locations.
There is still a need for scientific calculators for middle school bags. More on the drive: http://www.unitedwayabc.org/blog/ready-learn-back-school-supply-drive
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