United Way School Supply Drive Underway Donations accepted at collection sites throughout Union County 30 July 2010

United Way is encouraging local residents to think “Back to School” when they’re out shopping during the next week. The organization’s 13th annual School Supply Drive, presented by the Delaware County Bank is underway and concludes next Friday, August 6. “Pick up an extra box of crayons or a pocket folder when you’re doing your shopping,” said Shari Marsh, Executive Director of the United Way of Union County. “It seems like every store has a sale on school supplies. What may seem like an insignificant purchase to you will make a big difference to an area student who does not have the items they need to complete their assignments in the classroom. Believe me; the response we receive each year from area teachers thanking the community for their support of this project is incredible.” United Way Member Agency representatives will be collecting donations on Friday August 6 from 9:00 to 3:00 at the Marysville Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and Big Lots. Items are also being accepted through August 5 at the following locations: Delaware County Bank (181 N. Coleman’s Crossing Blvd. and 1055 W. 5th St. in Marysville); Marysville Public Library (231 S. Plum St.), the North Star Center (21 ½ N. Franklin St. in Richwood), and United Way of Union County (232 N. Main St.). The following workplaces are also coordinating internal drives: Bring It Delivery Service, Enchanted Care Learning Center, Gables at Green Pastures, Interim Health Care, Memorial Hospital of Union County, Milcrest Nursing Center, Nestle Product Technology Center, Ohio Reformatory for Women, Trinity Lutheran Church, Union County Board of Developmental Disabilities, and Vineyard Church of Marysville. All supplies collected during the drive will be taken to the Central Ohio Youth Center for sorting. Then United Way volunteers take them to all schools in the Marysville, North Union, Fairbanks, and Jonathan Alder districts before the start of the school year. Support provided by the Delaware County Bank will allow United Way to purchase needed items that come up short in the public collection. Event sponsorship has also allowed United Way to expand distribution beyond elementary and intermediate schools and distribute supplies to the local middle and high schools as well. Delaware County Bank and United Way agencies are partnering to conduct the 13th annual School Supply Drive in Union County. Pictured from left to right: Marjorie and Edgar Scheiderer of Windsor & Community Seniors, Dani Plank, Sarah Sellers, Michelle Vance, and Tony Nieto of Delaware County Bank, and Shari Marsh of United Way of Union County. United Way Agency representatives will be outside the Marysville Wal-Mart, Kmart, and Big Lots, collecting donations from 9:00 to 3:00 on Friday August 6. Supplies can also be taken at any time before that to the Marysville branches of the Delaware County Bank, the Marysville Public Library, the United Way office, or the North Star Center in Richwood. All supplies collected are delivered directly to all schools in the Marysville, Fairbanks, North Union, and Jonathan Alder School Districts United Way encourages families who need supplies to contact their school guidance counselor since the supplies will be available at each school. Instead of compiling full kits of items that may or may not be used by an individual child, we maximize donations by proportionately distributing items directly to the area schools. There, a supply closet is accessed throughout the school year by teachers for their students who don’t have a specific tool needed to complete an assignment. Items being collected include: #2 pencils, erasers, boxes of crayons (24, or 48 count), washable markers, washable dry-erase markers, large glue sticks, Elmer’s school glue (4 oz. bottles), Fiskar scissors blunt & pointed, standard wooden ruler w/centimeters, 12-count colored pencils, pens (black & blue ink), wide-lined and college notebook paper, 3”x 5” white index cards(lined), primary grade lined tablet, wide line and college spiral notebooks (approx. 120 sheets), black & white composition books, yellow highlighter markers, tissues (large box) , zip lock bags (sandwich, quart & gallon sizes) , post-it notes (3”x3”) and binder dividers. A complete, printable list of items being collected is available online at www.unitedwayofunioncounty.org. For more information about this project or any United Way-funded program, please visit www.unitedwayofunioncounty.org or call (937) 644-8381.