Event supports students

Fill the Bus fundraiser provides school supplies for those in need

The Educational Service Center of Lorain County held its annual Fill the Bus fundraiser Aug. 11 in an effort to provide school supplies to Lorain County students in need.

The sixth edition of the fundraiser gives members of the public the opportunity to support students at Lorain County schools. The campaign aims to fill up as many school buses with school supplies which will be distributed to local students in need.

Organizer Brenda Walsh, a manager at H&R Block, started the event six years ago after learning about Cleveland’s Stuff the Bus fundraising campaign. Walsh contacted her manager, district General Manager Gretchen Miklovic and Greg Ring, superintendent of the county Educational Service Center in order to

jump start a local Lorain County initiative.

“The first year we helped 400 kids and last year we hit 5,000. This year we are hoping to go beyond that,” Walsh said.

Walsh said after starting out helping five to 10 schools in the first year of the program, their efforts have expanded to include about 20 schools in Lorain County, with new sponsors being added each year.

After all donations have been collected, they will be distributed to local schools where principals and teachers will play a role in addressing the needs of each school. Both Walsh and Ring stressed teachers and principals who work with students each day usually are the best to decide.

“Six years ago Brenda contacted me through H&R Block and the ESC was happy to join with them to start this program to support local families in providing for them and their needs,” Ring said.

He said the initiative has supported schools across Lorain County with a presence in nearly every district.

“One issue that we can’t dismiss is the stigma that comes to a child who comes into a classroom without supplies,” Ring added. “They are starting a step behind and we want to make sure that is headed off before they step into the classroom so when they do come, they feel like they are ready. We think that’s real important that every child feels good walking into that classroom.” The Fill the Bus fundraiser will continue with another donation drop-off event from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 12 at Elyria’s WalMart Super Center, 1000 Chestnut Commons Drive.

The Educational Service Center will be also accepting drop-off donations at their 1885 Lake Ave. location in Elyria until Aug. 28.

Fill the Bus campaign organizers are requesting donations of the following school supplies: backpacks, book covers, colored pencils, crayons, hand sanitizer, highlighters, index cards, lunch boxes, markers, notebook paper, pencil cases, pens, pencils, spiral notebooks, tissues and two pocket folders.

“The first year we helped 400 kids and last year we hit 5,000. This year we are hoping to go beyond that.”

— Organizer Brenda Walsh

ERIC BONZAR — THE MORNING JOURNAL The Education Service Center of Lorain County and H&R Block were on hand collecting school supplies for their annual Fill the Bus event, at the East Broad Street Big Lots, Aug. 11. The group and their school bus will be out again, Aug. 12, at the...