Dora the Explorer Back to School Drive to support students of Westerville
Westerville Sunrise Rotary and Rotary Club of Westerville to Hold Dora the Explorer Back to School Supply Drive
Proceeds to Benefit neighborhood bridges Westerville
WESTERVILLE, Ohio, July 23, 2024--The Westerville Sunrise Rotary and Rotary Club of Westerville today announced they have brought together a number of key stakeholders and Uptown Westerville businesses to collaborate on a Dora the Explorer Back to School Supply Drive. The event will take place July 26th through August 3rd, with proceeds benefitting neighborhood bridges Westerville.
Beginning July 26th, Uptown Westerville businesses with a Dora poster displayed will have a bin on premises to collect donated school supplies and personal care items. On August 3rd, the drive concludes with a family event on the Westerville Civic Green from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Attendees will be encouraged to pick up a Dora the Explorer map in front of City Hall. From there, they can visit Uptown businesses to get key words to complete their exploration. Maps with five or more words can be submitted for a chance at raffle prizes at the conclusion of the event, including tickets to the Ohio State vs. Akron football game.
The week-long drive will focus on collecting items frequently requested by students in need attending Westerville City Schools. This includes both school supplies and personal care items and clothing.
Suggested school supply items are as follows: pencils/pens, crayons, markers, colored pencils, glue/glue sticks, pencil sharpeners, rulers, scissors, notebooks, binders, composition books, folders, note pads, erasers, Post-its, highlighters, notebook filler paper, math calculators, laptops, hand sanitizer, tissues, pencil boxes, and supply pouches.
Suggested personal care items are as follows: toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash, shampoo, conditioner, hair styling products, brushes + combs, deodorant, lotion, feminine hygiene products, shaving cream, razors, bodywash, loofahs, soap, facial cleanser, tissues, cotton rounds, Q-tips, and nail clippers.
New undergarments, sweatpants, leggings and other clothing essentials are needed in a full range of sizes – from kids to adults.
“Lack of basic needs is a major driver of absenteeism and can create barriers to learning,” said Rick Bannister, founder and CEO, neighborhood bridges. “Our aim is to remove these barriers by engaging the community to provide essentials to our local students. This drive will help countless local students in need to hit the ground running this school year. We thank all of the organizations and businesses who have made it possible, and thank donors in advance for their generosity.”
Participating organizations and local resources include Westerville Area Chamber, Uptown Westerville Inc, Leadership Westerville, Westerville City Schools, WARM, The Big Bus, the City of Westerville, and the Westerville Public Library.
The event on August 3rd will include appearances by former Ohio State Buckeye football standouts Andy Katzenmoyer and Obie Stillwell, and by current Ohio State Buckeye softball players.
In addition to dropping off donations, residents can participate by making a monetary donation. All funds collected will be used to purchase school supplies, personal care items and clothing essentials for students in need.
About neighborhood bridges
A 501(c)(3) organization, neighborhood bridges’ mission is to bridge communities with schools in providing basic needs, removing barriers, and seeking equity for students so they can engage and succeed in school and life. The organization has driven direct support and care to more than 453,000+ students and families through over $9 million in giving since its founding in 2017.
Neighborhood bridges is headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, and operates its “Gateway for Kindness” in 54 communities throughout Ohio, Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi.
For more information, vision neighborhoodbridges.org.