Lenaya Raack and Susan Andrew went on a shopping spree for a good cause Friday at the Walmart Supercenter on Whiskey Road in Aiken.
The two friends filled a cart with school supplies and then donated them to the United Way of Aiken County, which was holding its annual Stuff the Bus event at the store.
“We are both members of Women of Woodside, we live on the same street and we are interested in community service,” Andrew said. “We do this every year. Giving back is what you’re supposed to do in retirement. You help out wherever you can.”
Andrew and Raack brought a list of the United Way’s suggested donations with them, and they said they purchased everything on it.
In their cart, among other things, were book bags, pencils, highlighters, binders, loose-leaf paper, flash drives, earbuds and erasers.
“I grew up very poor, but God has been good to me and I want to give back,” Raack said. “I know what it’s like not to have the things you need.”
Stuff the Bus is an important part of the United Way’s School Tools outreach program.
The program’s purpose is to provide basic supplies to students from low-income families in Aiken County’s public schools.
“Quite a few children in our county are receiving free or reduced-price school lunches,” said Ellen Luton, director of resource development for the United Way. “If their parents don’t have the money to give them to buy food, then they probably aren’t going to have the funds to buy them school supplies. We want to give a helping hand to those kids.”
Students from the Burns Dance Studio served as volunteers for Stuff the Bus, handing out flyers and holding up small signs at Walmart’s entrances to promote the event.
They also accepted donations from Walmart customers and helped sort the supplies the United Way received.
“I have learned that there are kids in need of basic necessities,” said 17-year-old Burns Studio dancer Maegen Slaughter. “They don’t have crayons, and they don’t even have paper to write stuff on, so I think doing something like this is really great. It’s fun to help the community.”
The other Burns Studio students who were at Walmart included Luton’s daughters, Caroline, 13, and Ashley, 11. Joining them were Alyssa Williams, 13, and Wisdom Lawton, 9.
Grant Summerford, a member of the United Way’s board of directors, donated some supplies and assisted the United Way’s staff with the Stuff the Bus collection process.
“My wife, Patricia, is a sixth grade teacher at Schofield Middle School, so I know about the need,” he said. “She buys pencils and paper all the time for her students.”
Also Friday, there was another Stuff the Bus event in Aiken at the Walmart Supercenter on Richland Avenue West.
The United Way will be accepting donations of money or school supplies until July 27 at its headquarters at 235 Barnwell Ave. N.W.
Last year, through its School Tools program, the organization distributed more than 30,000 items to local public schools.
“We are so appreciative of the community’s support,” said United Way President Sharon Rodgers.
