Families have until July 17 to register children for free school supplies through Jackson County United Way’s annual Rock’n Ready program.
Supplies will be distributed Aug. 1 at Seymour High School to registered students enrolled at schools in Jack-son County.
A total of 643 children were signed up last year.
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Currently, only 300 students have registered, but the goal is to serve 1,000 students, according to Bonita Dobbs, Stuff the Bus/Rock’n Ready coordinator.
“We know there are students in need, and we want to serve them,” she said.
To have plenty of supplies to give away this year, United Way volunteers will conduct the seventh annual Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive at Walmart in Seymour from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily July 17 to 23. Needed items include pencils, paper, folders, crayons, glue and other basic school supplies.
Last year, more than 13,000 items, worth more than $17,300, were provided to students.
Once all registered students have gone through and selected items at the August distribution event, the remaining supplies will be divided among the schools to be used throughout the year, Dobbs said.
Thanks to a matching grant opportunity from the Cummins Foundation, the program will be able to make an even greater impact in supporting students this year, said Sean Hildreth, United Way resource development director.
“The Cummins Foundation offered a dollar for dollar matching grant up to $6,500,” he said.
“We were able to raise our portion two months ahead of the deadline, resulting in $13,000 to purchase school supplies.”
Tonja Couch, executive director of United Way, said by providing free school supplies to low-income families the community is helping children be better prepared to start a new school year.
Getting ready for school isn’t cheap, especially when you have to buy supplies, backpacks, clothes and shoes for several children, she added.
Families will spend an average of $643.78 on back-to-school shopping, according to the 2013 National Retail Federation’s Back-To-School Survey.
Research conducted by United Way shows 24 percent of local households have adults who are employed but do not make enough money to support their families.
Couch said these households face a 23 percent gap in the income needed to be able to afford the basics and budget for unexpected costs.
“When you think about that average spending and consider Jackson County families who are already struggling to afford basic needs, how will these students be prepared?” Couch said.
“Our strategy is to address the hardships with support like Rock’n Ready in order to create a more financially stable future.”
Besides school supplies, Rock’n Ready also introduces families to a variety of available resources to help with food and utility assistance and other needs through the United Way 2-1-1 hotline.
Families must dial 2-1-1 or 812-376-6666 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to register their children for Rock’n Ready.
The 2015 Leadership Jackson County Social Concerns Team also created a Rock’n Ready Race, which will help raise awareness and support the Rock’n Ready school supply program by ensuring there are startup funds for 2016.
The inaugural Rock’n Ready Race will be a 5K run-walk/10K run on Aug. 8, starting and finishing at Seymour High School. Runners and walkers will cover a course mapped by Indiana Timing.
Registration is $20 before July 24 and $25 after that date.
For information on how to be a part of the Stuff the Bus and Rock’n Ready initiatives, contact Dobbs at the Jackson County United Way at 812-522-5450 or by email at [email protected].
To register for the Rock’n Ready Race, contact Jeff Niewedde at 812-447-5528 or by email at [email protected].
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For information on how to be a part of the Stuff the Bus and Rock’n Ready initiatives, contact Bonita Dobbs at the Jackson County United Way at 812-522-5450 or by email at [email protected].
To register for the Rock’n Ready Race, contact Jeff Niewedde at 812-447-5528 or by email at [email protected].
Families must dial 2-1-1 or 812-376-6666 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to register their children for Rock’n Ready.
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