Mike Wolanin | The Republic Volunteers hand out backpacks full of school supplies during the annual School Supply Assistance Program in Columbus, Ind., Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.
The school year is just about to start so local organizations and community volunteers came together once again to distribute free school supplies.
The Bartholomew County School Supply Assistance Program (BCSSAP) held its annual distribution event on Thursday afternoon at the Columbus Fireman’s Cheer Fund warehouse. Families lined up near Columbus Municipal Airport before cruising through the drive thru event to get backpacks stuffed with school supplies.
The program provides free, basic supplies for K-12 students attending school in Bartholomew County and has flexible income guidelines designed for households experiencing financial need.
This encompasses students enrolled in Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. (BCSC) and Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp., and does include private school and home-schooled students.
United Way’s Alicia Monroe said nearly 2,100 students had registered for assistance as of Thursday afternoon.
“It’s not a record, but it’s more than we’ve had in the past. It’s more than last year,” Monroe said.
Families began lining up around 11 a.m. and the first shift for volunteers had been steadily busy, according to Monroe. About 24 volunteers assisted in passing out supplies, but close to 200 helped pack and move them.
United Way serves as the fiscal agent of the school supply program— those interested in donating funds to go towards the program can do so at uwbarthco.org/give/school-supplies.html.
Preparation’s for next year’s event are already underway.
“She’s already started, our shopper. She will really start doing major shopping when things go on clearance, so that’s how we stretch donor dollars,” Monroe said. ” … We do have to buy some things and we have a supplier that we utilize that for. But since we have a shopper now, we really save a ton of money.”
