11 Cares

11 Cares hosts ‘Pack the Bus’ event as back to school season starts

PITTSBURGH — Students are headed back to the classroom and many don’t have the school supplies that they need.

That’s why 11 Cares is Packing the Bus.

PHOTOS: 11 Cares hosts ‘Pack the Bus’ event as back to school season starts

11 Cares volunteers made their voices heard — drawing attention to help pack the bus.

They collected much-needed school supplies at five Staples locations Saturday, including this one on McKnight Road.

People could also donate money.

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11 Cares partnered with The Education Partnership, as well as sponsors 84 Lumber, Clearview Federal Credit Union, Duquesne Light, and Highmark Wholecare.

“Our goal this year is to get $10 million in support and it takes every single bit of the community pitching in to help,” said Josh Whiteside from The Education Partnership.

“At Highmark Wholecare, our community efforts are to ensure the kids have what they need. Whether it’s school supplies, doctor’s visit, a trip to a ride to the appointment — that’s what we’re all about. And this is just one more way that we are able to get back to our kids,” Rhonda Curry said.

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“Super excited to be over there filling those boxes and helping students to be successful in their future,” President and CEO of Clearview Federal Credit Union Ron Celaschi said. “Really happy to be here, we take our role as a community partner very seriously and Clearview’s proud to be part of this program.”

“At Duquesne Light, we are thinking about clean energy future for everybody. And part of that is the jobs we have today may not be the jobs we need tomorrow, so making sure all of our students and communities have the tools they need to succeed is critically important to that mission,” Holly Geitner from Duquesne Light said.

This year, The Education Partnership says the need is even greater for school supplies for students and teachers, who otherwise would have to do without.

“We hear it all the time that families need additional support. So every single item that we collect at the educational partnership makes its way out the door to a teacher and student in need,” Whiteside said.

If you weren’t able to make it out to Staples, you can still make a donation by texting PENCIL to 41444.