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Community comes together to prepare children for school

By ROSS GALLABRESE 5 min read

STEUBENVILLE -- Making sure area children have the basic supplies and other items they need when they head back to school is important.

That’s the message organizers of Monday’s Classrooms and Community event wanted to share.

Held by the Jefferson County Young Professionals in partnership with the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County, the afternoon included the distribution of backpacks filled with school supplies for local students and bags containing items area teachers will need for their classrooms.

"It’s very important because most people do need this stuff," said Robert Crawford of Steubenville, who was attending the event held at the Main Library with his two children and nephew by marriage. "They need what they get from here, because they can’t afford it."

School supplies were just one component of the afternoon. Participants had the chance to visit tables from local agencies, learn about the resources the library has to offer, take part in a touch-a-truck event, enjoy a hot dog and receive hair tinsel, courtesy of Halo Salon and Spa in Wintersville.

"I think there’s nothing better than giving back to the kids -- they are the future of the town," said James Lash, president of the young professionals. "We like to see all of these young professionals who are the next generation in the county and in the valley doing things. And, the kids in school, they are the next generation after that. So, you are building the foundation."

Lash said members of the young professionals -- along with businesses and others from around the area -- were excited about being able to participate.

"We received a lot of support from the organization and a lot of support from the community in sponsoring this as well as the library and the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. Everybody is working as a team together."

Mike Gray, executive director of the county’s library system, said assisting teachers, parents and students makes sense, especially with the state of the economy.

"We’re happy to be able to partner with the young professionals and provide school supplies for the folks in the community," Gray said while taking a break from directing parents and their children who were arriving about 15 minutes before the scheduled 4 p.m. start to the end of a line that stretched from the library’s main entrance down Slack Street and along Fourth Street nearly the length of the building.

"It’s important -- we all know money’s tight these days," Gray added. "To be able to help folks out with a backpack and some school supplies I think is pretty big these days."

While the crowd was large, it was not unexpected.

"We were expecting it to be just as big, if not bigger," said Houston Sexton, a board member with the young professionals. "It’s all about the community and trying to do good stuff for the kids to get them prepared."

Among the organizations with a table set up in the library was Valley Hospice. Employees were making fresh-squeezed lemonade for the participants. Andrea Hale, the Valley Hospice chief executive officer, said working to make the community a better place is important.

"It’s one of our core values," she said. "It’s on our shirts -- Together We Can," she said. "That’s internal and external, and together, we can celebrate our community."

Brianna Otto, Chloe Fisher and Ava Paterra of Halo said a fresh look can be important when children are going back to school.

"I think it helps the kids look forward to something exciting on top of the school supplies they are getting. They also get to feel good about going back to school and looking good," Otto said.

She and Paterra agreed that it can help build confidence.

"It just makes me happy seeing how happy the kids get with something as little as hair tinsel," Fisher added.

The afternoon also served as the distribution for the United Soul effort of the United Way of Jefferson County. Parents who had registered had the opportunity to pick up a bag that contained a new pair of shoes and socks. Marci Snyder Crawford, executive director of the United Way, said that help is critical.

"I think this event is so important because costs are so high," she said. "This will offset some of these parents who are struggling and looking to pay for school supplies, book bags and shoes. They can come here and get those items and they don’t have to worry about it."

Her husband, Steubenville Police Chief Wes Crawford, who was outside the library directing attendees to the touch-a-truck area, said it was a positive event.

"I think it’s a big deal, and it’s huge for the community to be able to come out and get school supplies," he said. "Plus, you see all of the businesses and organizations in there who are giving their time and efforts and manpower to come and make this happen."

Lisa Carmine of Steubenville and her children, Joshua and Chloe, were among the visitors to the touch-a-truck area, which included a fire truck, an Ohio Department of Transportation dump truck and the library system’s bookmobile, among other vehicles. Steubenville firefighter John Wright handed out plastic fire helmets and other items to interested children.

"An event like this is giving back to the community," Carmine explained. "It allows you to showcase what you could do and stay within the community and build careers."

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