A giveaway unlike any other
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STEUBENVILLE -- Area children gathered in the parking lot of the Seventh Street Plaza Thursday morning for the Urban Mission Ministries' annual Back-to-School Bash.
The children, accompanied by a parent or guardian, waited in two lines until their turn allowed them to visit the tent that corresponded to the child's grade level. Kindergarten- through fourth-grade pupils were housed under one tent, while fifth- through eighth-grade students were set up under another.
Patiently they waited. Volunteers hurried as best they could while remaining organized and taking down names and grades and noting which school each child attends.
And still, they kept coming.
"I did not expect this size of a crowd," said Cynthia Lytle, director of programs and community engagement director for the Urban Mission. "This is the most people I have seen at one of our rallies in years."
Vendors, businesses and nonprofit agencies were available to provide information and distribute various items for those preparing to return to classrooms next week.
Lytle and other organizers had prepared for an estimated 750 backpacks to be distributed to those attending the giveaway. They had collected donations and made purchases for months in preparation for Thursday -- even requesting additional contributions during the past few weeks because of a shortage of items to fill each backpack.
"And the people really responded," Lytle stated.
She thanked everyone for donating money toward the purchase of the additional items needed or for buying the school supplies outright and dropping them off at the mission. There were even some extra items which allowed organizers to offer an additional notebook or package of wipes to those needing them for their supply list.
She said the Urban Mission tried to follow the lists local school districts send out for the upcoming year in order to ensure students in grades kindergarten through 12 have what is need when school resumes.
"Although we weren't able to get all of the items the schools have asked for, we did get all of the basics," she said.
Items distributed at the bash included pencils, pens, colored pencils, a pencil pouch, glue, glue sticks, scissors, pocket folders, crayons, markers, notebooks and filler paper.
United Way of Jefferson County officials distributed approximately 450 pairs of tennis shoes through the United Sole program.
"This is a wonderful initiative, as it helps many of the children living locally acquire shoes they may not otherwise have the opportunity to receive," said Laura Rauch, United Way executive director. "The program distributes brand new tennis shoes to any child under the age of 18 that qualifies for free or reduced lunch."
Rauch stated applications were taken through July 15 and those who qualified were able visit the United Way's tent and collect their shoes.
"We are so pleased to be able to serve our community and be able to distribute brand new school shoes to those in need in Jefferson County," Rauch said. "We are able to do this thanks to our two sponsors, Cardinal Operating Co. and the Esther Simmons Charitable Trust."
"We also could not do this without the support of our loyal friends and donors," she concluded.
Lytle thanked those who donated and made it possible for the bash to occur, including the Jefferson County Kiwanis Club, the JaQuan Lavender Foundation and the Perrysville United Methodist Church in Scio. She thanked representatives from the Martin Luther King Association of Steubenville who were on site, engaging with the attendees. Lytle also thanked the dozens of volunteers who stepped forward to make the day special, as well as the Wal-Mart Distribution Center, the TRIO program at Eastern Gateway Community College and the Jefferson County courts.
She said around 30 area organizations had set up in the parking lot and were answering questions, and handing out fliers, cards and pamphlets about their services.