Students receive school supplies

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

— More than 200 backpacks filled with school supplies were distributed to Decatur students on Aug. 3 as part of United Way of Northwest Arkansas’ Stuff the Bus campaign.

Students in grades kindergarten through 12, along with their parents, lined up to receive the school supplies in the Northside Elementary School. A school bus was parked in front of the building for the event. Everyone who showed up got a backpack, according to superintendent Larry Ben.

The project was initiated by Holly Hill, vice president of Community Impact, and Jerry Caveness, area coordinator for the United Way of Northwest Arkansas. They began planning the event last spring with the help of elementary school councilor Maolina Yang and high school counselor Nancy Yang.

United Way donated 300 backpacks to be filled with supplies. Local businesses and community members participated in a school supply drive throughout the month of July to fill the backpacks.

The Decatur State Bank, the Decatur General Store, the Decatur Dollar Store, McKee Foods and the Walmart Martin Luther King building were all partners in the school supply drive.