Pam Dudding-Burch
Contributing writer
There are children who attend school with all their supplies, clothes and needs met, with not a care in the world. Other children have no idea how they are going to get their supplies mainly due to their parents not being able to afford them which can cause stress within the household.
In Craig County, many people refuse to let this happen to their students. For the last several years, Craig County schools have participated in a “Pack the Bus” event designed to collect school supplies.
Wal-Mart has opened their doors and hearts to allow schools, who wish to participate, the opportunity to bring a school bus to their parking lot, park it in the front of the store and accept donations from people as they walk in our out of the building.
Craig County, along with Roanoke and Salem City schools, were allowed to use the Salem Wal-Mart store this year.
Shoppers were given an opportunity to donate to their school of choice, and many gave generously.
Several locals volunteered their time for the event that was held on tax-free weekend, from Friday through Sunday.
Superintendent Jeanette Warwick, who also volunteered, gave a huge kudos to all who braved the heat during the weekend.
“I want to give a big thank you to those whom I call our ‘Pack the Bus’ Warriors,” she said. “I call them warriors because if anybody was outside over the weekend, you knew just how hot it was.”
The volunteer Warriors included; C.J. Crowder (who drove the bus and worked the entire weekend), Susan Stimeling, Gerri VanDyke, Donna Jones, Shari Good, Tracey Craft, Teresa Craft, Melissa Whiting, Elizabeth Day, Jeanette Warwick, Gennifer Miller, Amanda Lucas, Alex VanLuven, April Rickey, Amie Johnston, Stacey Crowder, Justin Persinger, Debbie Thomas, Amelia Taylor, Sierra Frazier, Holly Klotter, Lauren McAllister, Diana Bayne and Susie Mattox.
Warwick noted that the Craig County bus was absolutely packed. “We really did ‘Pack the Bus.’”
Warwick added that the community was so very generous. “We had people just walk up and give us cash saying to buy whatever was needed.”
The supplies collected will be available to students at all three of Craig’s schools. Ultimately, $1,200 was collected to purchase needed items.
Diana Bayne, the benefits coordinator, has been a volunteer for the “Pack the Bus” project for several years. “We just want to send a huge thank you to all employees, Wal-Mart and the community members for supporting the cause.”
Warwick added, “I want to thank those individuals for giving their time to come and help our students. We have students that really do need and use the supplies that we now have.”
