Mike Wolanin | The Republic Kris Jones grabs backpack full of school supplies during the Bartholomew County School Supply Assistance Program distribution at the Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund building in Columbus, Ind., Wednesday, July 26, 2023.
Local organizations and community volunteers worked together to help families cross items off their back-to-school shopping lists.
The Bartholomew County School Supply Assistance Program (BCSSAP) had its annual distribution event Wednesday afternoon, with families driving through the Columbus Fireman’s Cheer Fund warehouse to receive backpacks filled with school supplies.
The program provides free, basic supplies for K-12 students attending school in Bartholomew County. The program has flexible income guidelines and is “designed for households experiencing financial need.”
As of Tuesday night, 1,948 students had registered for assistance, said United Way Volunteer Action Center Director Alicia Monroe. The program served 1,991 students in 2022.
The distribution started at 1 p.m., and organizers were reporting a steady turnout as of 2 p.m.
“People started lining up at 11,” said Monroe.
She added that were a couple of issues with the car line, such as a car overheating and an instance where they had to stop traffic to let a semi get through.
“We’re just super grateful again to the Cheer Fund for allowing us to use their facility, because the drive-thru is very user-friendly to our families,” Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center community outreach coordinator Diane Doup. “And they have said how much they appreciate that.”
She also expressed gratitude to the donors, volunteers, committee members and other community members that have made this year’s distribution possible.
One helper on the day of the event was Reese Noblitt, 7, whose father co-chairs the Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund.
When asked what she enjoys about volunteering at the event, Reese replied, “It’s really fun, and it’s being nice.”
Youth Ambassadors from the Council for Youth Development were also on site to hand out “Shine On” postcards and information about resources for families and youth, according to CYD director Sara Dunlap.
Dunlap, who joined CYD in December, said she was enjoying her first time at the distribution.
“I love it,” she said. “I think it’s a great resource for the community.”
When asked if the heat was an issue — the National Weather Service has issued an advisory through midnight Friday — Doup said that volunteers and organizers were doing their best to stay hydrated, had tents to provide shade and were grateful for the breeze.
Temperatures aren’t the only thing rising; Doup said that inflation continues to be a challenge for the program.
“Our committee experienced a rather significant jump in our costs this year,” she said. “We think we’ll be able to make our budget this year, but we are concerned going forward, especially because we try to buy a lot of supplies on clearance, once they hit the clearance racks after school starts. And so we are concerned whether or not we will have funds to be able to do that, which would definitely affect even next year.”
She added that the school supply assistance program would like to partner with other organizations, businesses and groups who are interested in providing school supplies and work together to ensure that they’re not duplicating assistance.
Those wishing to give to the program can do so through monetary donations or by purchasing items from the Bartholomew County School Supply Assistance Program’s Amazon wish list. More information is available on the United Way of Bartholomew County website.
“Those donations are just so critical in ensuring that students start off the school year on equal footing,” said Doup.
