By Rodney Lane, NJEA Communications Consultant
On a warm and sunny late August day in Willingboro, NJEA, Willingboro Education Association (WEA), and iHeart Media joined together for a “Stuff The Bus” school supply event.
The goal of the event was to help provide the Willingboro students with the needed supplies to start the school year. Acme supermarkets in Willingboro provided a space outside of their shopping facility to allow individuals or groups to donate supplies to the students of the community. Power 99 FM, featuring DJ Cappuccino, broadcast the event live to the South Jersey and Philadelphia area.
During the start of the school year, there are many events throughout the state that involve school supply giveaways, but this event was unique. The “Stuff The Bus” event had a huge focus on the community giving back and participating in the process. On the Acme lot there was an actual school bus, and the goal was to stuff it with school supplies. Individuals and organizations who donated walked onto the bus and placed their donations anywhere they could fit them. Items such as backpacks, notebooks, writing implements and almost anything a school-aged child would need was donated.
“Rancocas Valley Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was glad to support this significant act of selfless giving in the local community,” said President Iraina Witherspoon. “Buying school supplies can be a heavy burden for families, and anything we can do to unlock a student’s potential is worth the effort.”
Donations were primarily given by community stakeholders who represented a large and diverse population including members of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Other event contributors included Sen. Troy Singleton, Burlington County Commissioner Dan O’Connell, Willingboro Superintendent of Schools Dr. Malcolm Outlaw, DSW, the Burlington County Education Association and the administrators from the Willingboro school district. Grace Baptist Church, Parkway Baptist Church and Building Kings & Queens, Inc. also made significant donations.
“Thank you for the opportunity for our organizations to be of service to our education community,” said Pauline Gibson, from the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Delta Zeta Chapter. “We are about helping to pave greater advancements for all scholars. As an organization whose emphasis is on serving your project, help to keep us honest and humble.”
“Seeing the community support for the NJEA/Willingboro Education Association ‘Stuff the Bus’ event was both exciting and inspiring!” said Kecia Parham Cook. “The community of Divine 9 organizations was present to support and uplift our students in Willingboro Schools. As a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., it gave me great joy to be in service and solidarity for this great purpose. This event is what our mission, to serve all mankind, is all about. I am looking forward to continuing the effort to uplift our communities!”
“It was an amazing event! Great turn out for a great cause,” said Khary Davis from Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. “Nothing is more rewarding than supporting the kids in our community and contributing to them having everything they need for a successful school year!”
Willingboro Education Association President Sabrina Austin said, “As a union, we were honored and blessed beyond measures to take the lead in this event. The donations from an outpouring of community members, businesses, and organizations made this a profound day for the children and families of Willingboro. We, the Willingboro Education Association, stand humble and proud to represent this phenomenal organization and the Stuff The Bus event. We could not have done it without the support of the community. We called out, and they came.”
What made this event so special was not only the large donations but the overall giving back from the Willingboro community. A pack of pens donated from an unknown Acme shopper, the school children who donated their own notebooks and the many community stakeholders who came out and supported the cause were just some of the examples of the willingness to support the children of Willingboro.
There was overwhelming support from many community stakeholders, including churches, board of education members, fraternities, sororities, politicians and members of the Willingboro public school community.
The WEA sends a huge thank you to the many Willingboro public school employees who played an important role in making this such a special event and who helped to ensure that the bus was indeed stuffed!