As cars filled the parking lot of the United Way of Caldwell County, TJ Tomaini (from left), Tina Tomaini, and Andrew Littlefield counted and noted how many supplies were dropped off before they were carried inside to stock the shelves of Classroom United. Last school year, more than 14,000 supplies were distributed to more than 300 teachers.
Leslie Brown, a first-grade teacher at Whitnel Elementary School, sorts supplies onto the shelves of Classroom United, a teacher resource store that provides free school supplies, hygiene items, and other products to teachers and students in Caldwell County. For this year’s Stuff the Bus, United Way of Caldwell County received nearly 13,300 supplies.
United Way Executive Director Kathy Austin stands in front of shelves of pre-bagged food. The bags contain breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for entire weekends. At the beginning of the school year, Austin's team reaches out to school counselors at the eight schools they serve, confirming the number of families that need assistance before delivering meal bags.Â
Eddie Peoples carries a box of notebooks from the donation area by the school bus to the store for other workers to unpack and sort. The store is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 3-5:30 p.m. during the school year, allowing teachers time to shop after the last school bell rings.Â
As cars filled the parking lot of the United Way of Caldwell County, TJ Tomaini (from left), Tina Tomaini, and Andrew Littlefield counted and noted how many supplies were dropped off before they were carried inside to stock the shelves of Classroom United. Last school year, more than 14,000 supplies were distributed to more than 300 teachers.
JACOB CHRISTOPHER / THE PAPER
United Way of Caldwell County held its annual Stuff the Bus event Aug. 3 at Classroom United in Lenoir, collecting school supplies for local students and teachers.
Organized in partnership with Communities In Schools of Caldwell County, the event featured food trucks, music, family activities, and displays highlighting local nonprofit organizations. Businesses and community groups also supported the program by sponsoring the event and conducting supply drives.
Donations will stock Classroom United, a resource center where Caldwell County public-school teachers can obtain classroom supplies at no cost. During the past school year, more than 270 teachers visited the center, which distributed more than 14,000 supplies.
United Way said Stuff the Bus helps ensure that more than 10,000 students across Caldwell County have the materials they need to succeed in school.
Leslie Brown, a first-grade teacher at Whitnel Elementary School, sorts supplies onto the shelves of Classroom United, a teacher resource store that provides free school supplies, hygiene items, and other products to teachers and students in Caldwell County. For this year’s Stuff the Bus, United Way of Caldwell County received nearly 13,300 supplies.
JACOB CHRISTOPHER / THE PAPER
Eddie Peoples carries a box of notebooks from the donation area by the school bus to the store for other workers to unpack and sort. The store is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 3-5:30 p.m. during the school year, allowing teachers time to shop after the last school bell rings.Â
JACOB CHRISTOPHER / THE PAPER
United Way Executive Director Kathy Austin stands in front of shelves of pre-bagged food. The bags contain breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for entire weekends. At the beginning of the school year, Austin's team reaches out to school counselors at the eight schools they serve, confirming the number of families that need assistance before delivering meal bags.Â
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.