Jennifer and Morgan from United Way of Southwest Michigan join Zack to talk about the School Supply Spectacular in Cass County. Details:
United Way of Southwest Michigan is proud to partner with area businesses and organizations to present School Supply Spectacular in Cass County in August. This annual event provides free backpacks with age-appropriate school supplies to Cass County K-12 students.
“Every August, School Supply Spectacular helps hundreds of kids in Cass County get ready for school, so we knew we had to get creative this year about making this fun experience as safe as possible,” said Debbie Ramirez, Volunteer Engagement Director at United Way of Southwest Michigan. “Parents will have to plan ahead and pre-register in order to participate, but this system enables us to continue supplying kids with what they need.”
To make this event safer this year, pre-registration is required by August 10 at uwsm.org/school-supply-spectacular. (Those who are unable to register online can call 269.932.3554.)
The online registration form will ask for grade level and backpack color preference, among other info. Registrants will select a day, time, and location to pick up their backpacks. Registrants will then receive one email ticket per child that includes their name, grade, and color preference as well as their assigned one-hour time slot and location. Families must arrive only during their assigned one-hour time slot at the pick-up location they selected during registration.
Children must be present in order to receive a backpack and must be accompanied by an adult. This event is for students residing in or attending schools in Cass County only.
Drive-through distribution will take place in assigned one-hour time slots on:
Saturday, August 15, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
at Brookside Learning Center, 61662 Dailey Rd., Cassopolis
Wednesday, August 19, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
at Marcellus High School, 303 W. Arbor St., Marcellus
Registrants will present their tickets for admittance and to receive their backpacks.
After receiving their backpacks, kids will look in it to see if there is a golden ticket inside. Ten of the backpacks will contain a golden ticket, and the lucky children who get one will win a gift card for back-to-school clothing, a free haircut, and two big boxes of after-school snacks.
A Feeding America of West Michigan Mobile Food Pantry will be on-site at Brookside and Marcellus. Pre-packaged boxes will be placed in the backs of cars during the drive-through.
During the entire process, no one will exit their vehicles. Staff and volunteers will be masked, and it is requested that drivers be masked as well.
United Way is grateful for the sponsorship that makes School Supply Spectacular possible. Thank you to:
Major Sponsors –
McLoughlin Family Foundation
Michigan Gateway Community Foundation
St. Denys Foundation
Gold Level Sponsor –
Indiana Michigan Power, AEP
Silver Level Sponsor –
Wolverine Mutual Insurance Co.
Bronze Level Sponsor –
Edward Lowe Foundation
For more information about School Supply Spectacular and to pre-register, visit uwsm.org/school-supply-spectacular.
ABOUT UNITED WAY
United Way of Southwest Michigan fights for the Health, Education, and Financial Stability of every person in every community. We have the influence and relationships to make sustainable change a reality. By harnessing resources from corporate, nonprofit, and public partners, we provide immediate assistance to our most vulnerable populations while addressing the root causes of our community’s longstanding challenges and changing lives for the better. To join the fight—through giving, advocacy, and volunteering—visit www.uwsm.org.
