HANOVER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The seats inside this bus will soon be filled with students heading to class in the Hanover Area School District, but the focus now is filling these seats with school supplies.
"So many of our kids are in need of supplies," explained parent volunteer Michelle Okonski. "Our teachers do spend out of their own pocket to have things for the kids. So just said, Let's do a 'Stuff the Bus.'"
To make sure the focus in the classroom is on learning and that children have everything they need for a successful school year.
"I mean, everybody forgets something, like you said, let it be their folder. I mean, even us as adults, how many times do we look for an ink pen and don't have one? You know, it's just a simple little gesture that can make their day go a little easier," said Okonski.
"We donated some; I did pencils, crayons, folders, notebooks," said Keyia Marmolejo, who has a son in the district.
She was happy to help out.
"When I saw that they posted that they needed their supplies. I'm like, that's something easy. Me my husband were just like, you know, sometimes people just, you just need help with things, and we've been in that situation before, so I figured this is the easy way to help out, and it's also a way to teach my son just to make sure he gives back to your community," said Marmolejo.
If you missed your chance to contribute on Monday, there are other opportunities to donate school supplies later this month.
"We are going to have the van at Lee Park's open house, which is tomorrow night, and for the seventh-grade orientation at the high school, it will be there again," said Okonski.