Giving
Picture this: over 50 businesses coming together to hand out supplies and host activities; free lunch served to over 1,200 individuals; thousands of various school supplies donated by over 20 local communities; and thousands of area students going back to school prepared to do learn.
Thanks to some pretty incredible people, that vision is a reality every summer in Southeast Missouri at the Back to School Fair!
Cape Girardeau Public Schools, United Way, The Salvation Army, The Urban Kids Project, and Big Brothers Big Sisters are excited to host this event again this year on Wednesday, August 1st at the CJHS Tiger Field House from 10am-3pm.
Families can register their kiddos for free school supplies and have access to several family resources, including free immunizations and dental screenings, health insurance counseling, free food, and activities.
If your company is looking to get involved feel free to reach out to me! Many organizations set up to promote programming, offer services and giveaways, or just simply host a fun activity for kids!
It’s estimated that 1,000 families in our area cannot afford the school supplies needed for their children to confidently begin another academic year. So what can we do to help them? United Way, KFVS12, Withers Broadcasting, and Walmart plan to host the 5th annual Stuff the Bus event during Missouri’s tax-free weekend.
Boxes will be at various Walmart stores in Southeast Missouri starting Friday, August 3rd. School districts and their respective volunteers will be out from 10am-4pm on Saturday, August 4th to collect supplies (or cash) from shoppers who donate.
But why wait until August?! United Way of Southeast Missouri encourages you to start purchasing supplies now! Our office will serve as a drop-off point during the month of July for anyone who wants to collect supplies for area students. Your workplace may even be interested in hosting your own drive!
Here’s a list of some of the most commonly needed items:
- Single-subject notebooks
- Mechanical pencils
- Filler paper
- 2-pocket folders
- Ink pens
- Crayola 24-count crayons
- 2-pack pink erasers
- Bottled glue
- Scissors
- 3-pack glue sticks
United Way has had an ongoing dedication to students, and it’s obvious that our region is equally committed. One of the biggest challenges they face is heading back to school unprepared. We hope you’ll join us in supporting our students and ensuring they’re ready for another great year in August!
