Media Release
United Way Contact:
Christopher Woods, Volunteer Coordinator
413-693-0236 / [email protected]
Holyoke Mall Contact:
Lisa Wray, Holyoke Mall at Ingleside
413-536-1440 / [email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / July 26, 2018
UNITED WAY OF PIONEER VALLEY TEAMS UP WITH PETER PAN BUS LINES, SIX FLAGS NEW ENGLAND, COMCAST, WESTERN MASS NEWS, HOLYOKE MALL AND OTHERS FOR THE ANNUAL STUFF THE BUS PROGRAM
School Supply Drive to benefit children who are homeless in Chicopee, Holyoke, Springfield, Westfield, West Springfield and South Hadley
Springfield, MA,—United Way of Pioneer Valley and Peter Pan Bus Lines will launch the annual Stuff the Bus campaign with a press conference event on Friday, July 27, 2017 at 11 a.m. outside the Target store at the Holyoke Mall. The campaign will be collecting new school supplies from July 27 – August 16. The supplies will be distributed in new backpacks to children who are homeless in Chicopee, Holyoke, Springfield, Westfield, West Springfield and South Hadley.
“Holyoke Mall is proud to be a collection site once again for this important initiative. Shoppers purchasing their own Back to School clothes, shoes and supplies will have the opportunity to donate supplies for those in need while they’re here. Holyoke Mall stores and employees will also be running their own school supply drives to support this. Together we can give children the tools they need to succeed in the classroom,” said Holyoke Mall Director of Marketing, Lisa Wray.
“At the United Way of Pioneer Valley we believe that every child should have the same opportunity for success in school,” remarks United Way President Kathy Dube. “By providing backpacks and school supplies for hundreds of children who do not have a permanent home, we are showing the love and support their community has for each of them. Last year, The United Way of Pioneer Valley provided 2,000 backpacks with supplies to children of the community.”
Individuals are encouraged to donate the following age-appropriate supplies: pencil boxes, highlighters, binders, No. 2 pencils, erasers, binders, crayons, pens, glue sticks, rulers, two-pocket folders, one-subject notebooks.
From July 27th through August 16th 2018 donations can be brought to either:
United Way of Pioneer Valley, 1441 Main St, Suite 147, Springfield MA
Monday through Friday: 8:30am – 4:30pm
Holyoke Mall
Upper Level, near Target
July 27th 11am – 12pm
August 4th & 11th 12pm – 2pm
Western Mass News, 1300 Liberty Street, Springfield MA
July 30 – Aug 10
Monday through Friday: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Balise Kia, 603 Riverdale St. West Springfield MA
Monday through Sunday: 11:00am – 6:00pm
On August 16th Only / Six Flags National Roller Coaster Day:
Those who provide 20 or more items will receive a free ticket at Six Flags New England. This concludes the campaign, where donations can be made in conjunction with National Roller Coaster Day.
Financial contributions are also welcome and will be used to purchase additional backpacks and supplies as needed. Contributions may be made online by clicking on our “Donate” button at www.uwpv.org.
This project would not have been possible without the support of our generous sponsors and community partners. All sponsors include: Peter Pan Bus Lines, Six Flags New England, Holyoke Mall, Western Mass News, Comcast, UTC Aerospace Systems-Machinists Union Local 743, Excel Dryer, Harry Grodsky & Co. Inc., The UWPV Women’s Leadership Council, and MedExpress.
Community Partners include: Balise Kia, Bank of America, Eversource Energy, Placon Packaging Corporation, Health New England, C&S Wholesale Grocers, The South Hadley Council on Aging, The O’Connell Companies, the Olive Garden Restaurant in West Springfield, and Life Laboratories of Mercy Medical Center.
For more information, please visit the Stuff the Bus page at www.uwpv.org/stuff-bus, www.peterpanbus.com or call United Way of Pioneer Valley at (413) 693-0236.
About United Way of Pioneer Valley
United Way of Pioneer Valley mobilizes people and resources to strengthen our communities. UWPV targets the community’s most pressing needs and focuses resources, community partnerships and the energy of volunteers to create measurable results. For more information, call United Way of Pioneer Valley at (413) 693-0236 or visit www.uwpv.org.
About Peter Pan Bus Lines
Peter Pan serves over 100 communities throughout the northeast corridor, with daily express service including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, DC. The company transports over three million passengers a year and its fleet of more than 300 buses travels over 25 million miles annually. The company also operates nationwide charter and tour services.
About Six Flags New England
Located in Agawam, Six Flags New England is the region’s biggest, most popular theme park featuring dozens of thrill rides, shows, and activities. Established in the late 1800s, it is also the area’s oldest amusement park.
About Holyoke Mall at Ingleside
Holyoke Mall is a 1.6 million square foot enclosed shopping center in Holyoke, MA located at the “Crossroads of New England” at the Intersection of I-90 and I-91, drawing customers from four states including MA, CT, VT and NH. Western New England’s largest shopping destination with over 18 million visitors per year, Holyoke Mall has nearly 150 specialty shops, restaurants and department stores including Macy’s, Target, Apple, Michael Kors, Pottery Barn, Sumo Japanese Steakhouse and Uno Pizzeria & Grill. For more information regarding new stores and special events, please visit www.holyokemall.com. You may also follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HolyokeMall; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holyokemall/ and Twitter: www.twitter.com/HolyokeMall
GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER.
LIVE UNITED®
www.uwpv.org
United Way of Pioneer Valley
1441 Main Street, Suite 147, Springfield, MA 01103