Allegan collaboration delivers backpacks to students

Stuff the Bus collected more than 60,000 school supplies in West Michigan, with Allegan County’s drive led by Allegan Area ESA, CAAC and local volunteers.

More than 900 Allegan County students are starting the school year with new backpacks and essential supplies, thanks to a communitywide partnership aimed at easing financial pressures on families.

Heart of West Michigan United Way’s annual Stuff the Bus campaign collected more than 60,000 school supplies across West Michigan. Allegan County’s effort combined the resources of the Allegan Area Educational Service Agency (Allegan Area ESA), Community Action of Allegan County (CAAC), and local volunteers.

“We utilize partnerships with area districts and organizations to identify the greatest need for schools and students who need supplies the most,” says Maribeth Groen, the United Way’s director of events and public relations.

“They determine receiving schools by working closely with the school’s staff members, the McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaisons, and looking at free and reduced lunch rates and existing community partnerships.”

Groen says volunteers stuffed more than 1,025 backpacks with donations from local businesses and contributions from Meijer and Gun Lake Casino. Pro Lowe Movers delivered the backpacks.

CAAC managed Allegan’s share of the distribution. 

“We utilized social media and worked with area agencies to spread the word,”  says Mardi Noorman, CAAC’s director of administration and facilities. “Clients signed up to be sure we had enough supplies to fill the need, and we held a weeklong pickup so children could choose a backpack that fit them best. We also offered the remaining supply on a first-come, first-served basis for anyone who wasn’t able to sign up.”

Noorman adds that CAAC partnered with Allegan Area ESA, the Great Start Readiness Program, Sylvia’s Place and its Head Start program to identify families in need

‘Go to school with pride’

Parents describe the program as a lifeline during a time when everyday expenses can make school shopping overwhelming. Several say the backpacks arrived just when they were struggling to cover rent, food or gas. 

One mother of six calls the program “a blessing” that helped her family manage the costs of back-to-school and holidays. Another parent says the filled backpacks meant her son could “go to school with pride instead of shame or embarrassment.”

Carey Stolsonburg, communications coordinator for Allegan Area ESA, says the agency worked with McKinney-Vento liaisons to identify students in need. 

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“Community Action stored all 306 backpacks, and our facilities and maintenance team, led by Mark Jackson, delivered them to each school,” Stolsonburg says of that share of the distribution. “It was a seamless process, and we’re so thankful to Community Action and United Way for helping us ensure students received the supplies they need.”

Backpacks were distributed according to local demand:

• Allegan Public: 25 elementary, 15 middle, 15 high school
• Fennville Public: 15 elementary, 10 middle, 15 high school
• Glenn Public: 15 elementary school
• Hopkins Public: 10 elementary, 10 middle school
• Outlook Strict Discipline Academy: 10 middle, 35 high school
• Plainwell Community: 15 elementary, 10 middle, 10 high school
• Wayland Union: 6 elementary, 10 middle, 10 high school
• Hillside Learning Center: 10 high school
• Transition Center: 5 high school
• Early College: 15 high school
• Tech Center: 40 high school

In total, 86 elementary, 65 middle and 155 high school students received backpacks — 306 students altogether through the Allegan Area ESA.

Organizers say the Stuff the Bus program depends on cooperation among nonprofits, schools and local businesses to collect and distribute supplies.

One mother, who says she normally avoids asking for help, used a feedback form to describe the difference the program made for her family. 

“These backpacks could not have come at a better time for my family,” she says. “Though this may seem like a small gesture to some, this meant everything to us.”

Photos courtesy of Community Action of Allegan County.