Page 9 - The HandPrint_July-August

MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

GOJO Supports the United Way’s Stuff the Bus Initiative

By Beth Beddow, Learning & Development

For many people, the new school year is an exciting time filled with new school clothes and supplies, but for
some families in Summit County, back-to-school shopping creates a significant burden that often results in
children going back to school without the necessary supplies.

This year, GOJO chose to sponsor the Sam Salem Community Learning Center (CLC), in Akron, Ohio as the
sole provider of school supplies for the students at Sam Salem CLC. Thanks to the generous donations of
GOJO team members, we were able to provide 375 backpacks filled with school supplies to Sam Salem
CLC! Each backpack contained all necessary items required for students to be successful for back-to-school,
including pens, pencils, markers, crayons, folders, tissues, and glue sticks.

Supporting the Stuff the Bus initiative is another way we can give back to the communities that support us
through our longtime partner, the United Way. Thank you to the GOJO team members who donated supplies
to make this possible. Special thanks to Debbie Vermillion and Jessica Holbrook for organizing this initiative
at GOJO.

Left: GOJO team
members and
volunteers pose for
a picture at the
Stuff the Bus Sort-A
-Thon with United
Way Team
members: Jessica
Holbrook, Debbie
Vermillion, United
Way board
member, Gloriann
Martinek, Morgan
Paris, Lorraine
Baughman,
Thomas Brazil, Tory
Thomas, Kaley
Tocco, Michele
Cerminaro, Kynda
Reid, United Way
Representative

Below: Akron Public School students receiving their Stuff the Bus backpacks!

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