United Way of Aroostook ‘stuffs the bus’
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — One hundred students from economically-disadvantaged backgrounds in Aroostook County will be receiving much-needed school supplies and the backpacks to carry them in, thanks to the collaborative efforts of L.L. Bean, headquartered in Freeport, United Way of Aroostook and the Aroostook County Action Program’s Family Services Program.
Staff photos/Kathy McCarty
SCHOOL SUPPLIES and the backpacks to carry them will soon be in the hands of students who might otherwise be unable to acquire back-to-school items. The project is a collaborative effort between L.L. Bean, which donated the backpacks; United Way of Aroostook, which filled them with school supplies; and ACAP, whose Family Services Program will distribute them to County youth in time for school. Pictured holding a sample of supplies and backpacks being distributed to youth throughout Aroostook are, from left: Claudia Stevens, executive director of the UWA; and Nahar Little, UWA office administrator.
BACKPACKS loaded with school supplies fill the seats of an ACAP bus, destined for students in need throughout Aroostook County. L.L. Bean donated the bags to United Way of Aroostook, which then filled them with supplies. ACAP will now distribute them.
“I received a call from an L.L. Bean representative asking if we could use 100 backpacks. They indicated the business would make the donation provided we could see they got into the hands of children in need this school year,” said Claudia Stevens, executive director of the UWA.
The UWA received the backpacks earlier this summer, which came in a variety of colors suitable for high school-, junior high- and elementary-aged children — both boys and girls.
“They (L.L. Bean) contacted us out of the blue. They said they’d send us 100 (backpacks) to distribute to those in need. The value of this donation is about $4,000,” said Stevens.
Stevens said it was then up to the UWA board to fill each with age-appropriate school supplies.
“The board agreed to spend up to $1,500 for school supplies to fill the backpacks. All supplies were bought locally. We spent about $1,200,” she said.
On Aug. 14, ACAP sent a bus over for the pickup, with plans to begin delivery to eligible students throughout Aroostook County in the days ahead.
“The backpacks will be distributed through ACAP’s Family Services Program throughout Aroostook County. We have offices from the St. John Valley to Dyer Brook,” said Mike Truman, ACAP’s bus driver.
“Each backpack contains various items students will need as the school year begins. Items include notebooks, folders, flash drives, pencils, pens, markers and academic planners,” said Nahar Little, office administrator for UWA.
“Younger ones get pencil boxes, glue, erasers,” said Little.
“This is a collaborative effort — one made possible through the generosity of L.L. Bean and with ACAP’s help distributing the totes in time for school,” said Stevens. “ACAP will see that they’re distributed throughout The County. That was our wish.”
“We were able to ‘stuff the bus’ on Wednesday, filling the seats with loaded backpacks destined to help students of all ages,” said Stevens.
The 100 backpacks were broken down by age group: 18 each for high school-aged boys and girls, 16 each for junior high-aged boys and girls and 16 each for elementary-aged boys and girls.
