Background

• There are over 2,000 homeless school-aged children in Springfield, Holyoke and Westfield.
• These children, grades K-12, will not start the school year with the necessary supplies to prepare them for academic success.
• In keeping with United Way of Pioneer Valley’s mission of mobilizing people and resources to strengthen communities and address the challenges of their people, United Way of Pioneer Valley, Peter Pan Bus Lines, Link to Libraries and CBS 3 Springfield will host a Stuff the Bus campaign.
• The goal of the campaign is to solicit enough age-appropriate school supplies and backpacks for each homeless child in these communities.
• The supplies will help provide these at-risk youth with the best possible chance for success this school year.
• In addition to supplies, Link to Libraries will stuff each backpack with an age-appropriate book to increase reading skills.

Details

• The Stuff the Bus campaign will accept donations of backpacks and school supplies from August 16-21.
• Peter Pan Bus Lines will position buses at three collection points on August 19, 20 and 21; one at the Holyoke Mall, one at the Westfield Shops on Rt 20 and one that will be at Haymarket Square (Boston Rd., Springfield) in the morning, moving to the Eastfield Mall in the afternoon.
• With support from the mayors, City Halls in Springfield, Holyoke and Westfield will also serve as collection points during normal business hours, although buses will not be positioned at these locations.
• In addition, donors may also drop off supplies during normal business hours at the Peter Pan Bus Terminal on Main Street in Springfield, at 25 TD Bank branches in Springfield and at these People’s United Bank branches: 1391 Main Street, Springfield; 1630 Boston Road, Springfield; 29 State Street, Springfield; 1515 Northampton Street, Holyoke .
• Financial donations can also be made at the bus collection points or online on the Stuff the Bus page at www.uwpv.org. Checks should be made out to the United Way of Pioneer Valley. Financial contributions will be used to purchase additional backpacks and supplies as needed.
• Volunteers from United Way of Pioneer Valley will be on board the buses to stuff the backpacks as supplies arrive.
• The packed backpacks will then be distributed to the children by way of various agencies that support homeless individuals and families on August 25-27.
• Individuals are encouraged to drop off backpacks and/or school supplies, and businesses and organizations are encouraged to host their own drives.
• Peter Pan will also be providing raffle opportunities at the Westfield Air Show on August 21 and 22, with all proceeds benefiting the Stuff the Bus campaign.

Partners

• United Way of Pioneer Valley: Community sponsor
• Peter Pan Bus Lines: Corporate sponsor
• CBS 3 Springfield: Media sponsor
• Link to Libraries: Literary sponsor

For More Information

• Visit www uwpv.org or peterpanbus.com
• Call United Way at (413) 737-2691

About United Way of Pioneer Valley
United Way of Pioneer Valley mobilizes people and resources to strengthen communities.  UWPV targets the community’s most pressing needs and focuses resources, agency partnerships and the energy of volunteers to create measurable results.

About Peter Pan Bus Lines
Peter Pan serves over 100 communities throughout the northeast corridor, with daily express service including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, DC. The company transports over three million passengers a year and its fleet of more than 300 buses travels over 25 million miles annually. The company also operates nationwide charter and tour services.

About Link to Libraries
Link To Libraries is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in May 2008, whose mission is to collect and distribute new and gently used books to elementary school libraries and non-profit organizations and to enhance the language and literacy skills of children of all cultural backgrounds.

About CBS 3 Springfield

CBS 3 Springfield is the CBS television affiliate for the Pioneer Valley and Western Massachusetts.  CBS 3 Springfield is committed to serving the cities and towns of Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire Counties with local news, weather, public service announcements and advertising opportunities.