STUFF THE BUS

Char-Em United Way invites you to "Stuff the Bus" During the annual School Supply Drive Petoskey--The extra expenses associated with the start of school each year are difficult for many families. Char-Em United Way (CEUW) is asking the community to collect and donate school supplies to make this school year a successful one for every child. Char-Em United Way will host its annual school supply drive beginning August 3, and wrapping up on Saturday, Aug. 15th. On the 15th school buses will be at Walmart in Petoskey and K-Mart in Charlevoix from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the community to fill with school supplies for local children in need. In addition, Char-Em United Way will have a table in the children?s section of Festival on the Bay on August 15th with games and prizes. School supplies can be dropped off at any of the three event locations. "We want to make sure that every child has the supplies needed to succeed in school," said Racheal Barkley, Program Manager at Char-Em United Way. "Continuing cuts in school budgets and the number of local ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households mean that many local children are in need of the basics like pens, pencils, paper and scissors. The Char-Em Intermediate School District is still averaging almost 50% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. That shows us that the need is great in our communities." To make it easy for people to give, select businesses throughout Charlevoix and Emmet Counties have donation containers available through August 17th. Those businesses and locations are as follows: Walmart, Petoskey; The UPS Store, Petoskey; Family Fare stores in both Boyne City and East Jordan; Friendship Centers of Emmet County, Petoskey; Olesons, Petoskey; and Kmart, Charlevoix. Shoppers can get a list of suggested school supplies at "CEUW's website www.charemunitedway.org. The distribution of school supplies to students in need will be based upon free and reduced lunch numbers and the supplies will be delivered directly to each school district in the two county area where school administrators can pass them out as needed. This year the Stuff the Bus program had a helping hand from Alfred Soriano-Micheau, owner of Cre8tive Cupcakes in Charlevoix. Earlier this summer, Mr. Soriano-Micheau invited guests attending his birthday party to bring school supplies in lieu of personal gifts. The vast array of school supplies were then delivered to Char-Em United Way for inclusion in this year?s school supply drive. Monetary donations to purchase school supplies for students in need will also be accepted. Donations can be mailed to Char-Em United Way, PO Box 1701, Petoskey, MI 49770 with Stuff the Bus noted, or use one of the donation boxes available at each location during the event. For more information, contact Char-Em United Way at 487-1006 or info@charemunitedway.org.