United Way of Summit County will kick off its annual “Stuff the Bus” school supply drive with a special RubberDucks baseball game at Canal Park in Downtown Akron. Proceeds from ticket sales for the event, which starts at 2:05 p.m. on Sunday, June 26, will go toward classroom materials for at-risk Akron Public School students.
The game, between the Akron RubberDucks and the Trenton Thunder, will mark the beginning of United Way’s two-month-long school supply drive. Local companies that sign up to participate in the drive will collect classroom materials throughout the summer. Then, in mid-August, volunteers will sort and prepare the supplies for delivery to Akron Public School students on their first day of school.
Attendees who would like to take part in “Stuff the Bus” can bring their donations to the game. A list of needed supplies can be found online at http://www.uwsummit.org/bus.
“Stuff the Bus” is part of United Way’s yearlong engagement calendar, which gives local corporate and individual volunteers the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children and families throughout Summit County. With more than half of Akron children living in poverty and more than a quarter of Akron third-graders reading below grade level, United Way is committed to ensuring that every child has the basic materials they need to succeed in the classroom.
“For many of us, a bag full of classroom supplies seems like nothing special,” says Jim Mullen, president and chief executive officer of United Way of Summit County. “But for a child in need, those supplies can mean the difference between fitting in and falling behind.”
To purchase discounted tickets for the game or to find out about Stuff the Bus and other United Way engagement opportunities, visit uwsummit.org/events.