Jen Moulton of the United Way checks Westfield off her list after backpacks are unloaded at WMS. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTIELD – On Friday, the United Way of Pioneer Valley and Peter Pan Bus Lines delivered 83 backpacks filled with donated school supplies to the Westfield Middle School for students in need in the district.
The donation was among 2,200 delivered throughout Western Massachusetts in anticipation of the start of school.
Christopher J. Rogers, Westfield’s administrator of student interventions and safety, said the backpacks, which are being stored at WMS, will be distributed throughout the district.
“We will distribute them to students who are homeless, in foster care, and to any student in the district that is economically disadvantaged,” Rogers said.
Backpacks are filled with school supplies, and will be given to students in need of assistance throughout the district. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Rogers said the backpacks are filled with needed school supplies, such as pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, highlighters and notebooks. The school supplies were collected all summer at various locations throughout the Pioneer Valley by the United Way.
Jen Moulton of the United Way of Pioneer Valley said volunteers from Macy’s and Westover Job Corps did all the work from the beginning to the end of the drive.
Alice Buckner, business and community liaison with Westover Job Corps Center said her students were happy to volunteer to deliver the backpacks alongside the volunteers from Macy’s. She said they were amply rewarded because at the first stop at Six Flags, they were given passes for the park, and will get to spend the day there later in the season.
Volunteers from United Way, Macy’s, Westover Job Corps, Peter Pan with WMS staff. (Photo by Amy Porter)
“We are extremely grateful to once again work with our region to make this event possible,” United Way of Pioneer Valley CEO Paul Mina said. “Our main goal here with Stuff the Bus is to ensure that every child in the Pioneer Valley has the chance to start their school year off on the right foot, no matter their circumstances, and the community’s help makes that possible.”
Backpacks were also delivered on Friday to locations in Springfield, Chicopee, Holyoke, South Hadley, and West Springfield. Westfield was the final stop of the day.
Amy Porter can be reached at [email protected].
