Carlisle Community “Fills the Bus”!
Local businesses, community groups, churches, faith-based organizations, and Carlisle school district employees rallied together to collect school supplies and backpacks for youth in our community. United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland held its 7th Fill the Bus backpack and school supply collection event in partnership with Project SHARE. Fill the Bus will help students in the Carlisle area prepare for their return to school this fall with all the tools for success. “Our community members believe that every child should have the supplies they need to learn in school, and it is clear by their commitment of time and resources to this effort” Lucy Zander, Executive Director of the United Way stated. Donation requests included paper, pencils, flash drives, binders, crayons, glue sticks, folders, and backpacks.
A school bus and Project SHARE truck were stationed outside of Walmart on Noble Boulevard on Friday, July 14th and Saturday, July 15th from 9 am-6 pm ready to be packed with donated items. Volunteers encouraged shoppers to stuff giant cardboard boxes, generously donated by Carlisle Container, with school supplies right outside the entrance. Walmart provided a $1,000 community grant to help purchase any of the items that were not collected.
“We are hoping to supply 1,000 students with school supplies and backpacks this year, and we are fortunate to have many local congregations, businesses, and organizations as collection sites in addition to Fill the Bus, Bob Weed, Interim CEO of Project SHARE, stated about the endeavor. Supplies will be given out in the beginning of August, and parents who are in need of backpacks for their children can sign up online at projectsharepa.org/Carlisle-4-kids.
In addition to Walmart’s collection, donors can drop off items at Project SHARE or United Way until July 30th or send financial contributions directly to Project SHARE. The memo line should include “Fill the Bus”.
