Multiple districts — When students return to East Kentwood High School next week, Kent School Services Network coordinator Scott Troyer said he is looking forward to bonding over backpacks.
At the beginning of each new school year, Troyer said he watches students’ faces “brighten up” when they pick up their brand-new backpacks, filled with essential supplies, during the high school’s open house. Similar donations are also provided at the elementary and middle schools, thanks to Troyer and his fellow KSSN community coordinators.
“(School supply donations) make a huge difference at Kentwood,” Troyer said. “I meet with newcomer students before school starts and make sure they get a new backpack full of supplies they get to pick out in my office.
He added, “It helps take away the worry for their families of where they’ll get their supplies.”
Troyer keeps the closet in his office stocked with backpacks, pencils and notebooks for students who need them, thanks to donations from families, the community and Heart of West Michigan United Way.
KSSN coordinators from Godfrey-Lee, Godwin Heights, Grand Rapids, Kenowa Hills, Kentwood and Sparta public schools have partnered with United Way since 2017. The two organizations work closely to identify schools’ greatest needs. KSSN coordinators then help ensure the supplies reach students, families and teachers who will most benefit from them.
The majority of school supply donations comes from United Way’s annual Stuff the Bus drive for West Michigan students, collected from 70 local businesses and a 24-hour donation drive at WZZM. That’s where Kentwood Public Schools gets about 90% of its school supplies for the year, Troyer said.
At the end of the two-week drive, United Way staff and volunteers partnered with KPS staff to “stuff” school buses full of donations.
The district’s buses transported everything from participating businesses to Townline Elementary, where volunteers sorted and organized thousands of supplies. KSSN staff members were then invited to pick up allocated donations for their schools, as well as a few extra things for teachers’ classrooms — all at no cost.
Easing the Burden for Families
Maribeth Groen, Heart of West Michigan United Way director of events and public relations, said Kentwood schools played a “significant role in making this year’s Stuff the Bus campaign possible.”
“It has truly been a great community partnership and we would love the opportunity to highlight the impact of everyone who came together to make it a success,” Groen said.
The first ‘Stuff the Bus’ event was held nine years ago at a “smaller scale,” according to Groen. She said United Way chose to partner with KSSN specifically because of their close relationships with West Michigan schools and understanding of where resources are needed most.
“In West Michigan, one in three families are struggling to meet their basic needs,” she said. “They’re making tough choices all year long; at least we can help ease the burden of purchasing supplies and help students have the confidence to start the school year with the right tools.”
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