Almost 1,400 students in need get back to school supplies, bags
By Lauren Parker-Gill, Staff Writer, The Times
Jane Johnson, a member of the committee for the Back to School event and a board member of the Bridge Academy and Community Center, helped students choose their backpacks filled with school supplies Friday at Scott Middle School. Photo courtesy of Coatesville Back to School: Prepare for Success event committee.
COATESVILLE – The lines began forming at 8 a.m. for Coatesville’s Third annual Back-to-School: Prepare for Success Event Friday at Scott Middle School where a team of volunteers, community organizations and sponsors came together to provide students in the district with backpacks, school supplies, hair cuts and a celebration for the start of a new school year.
In years past, several organizations in Coatesville held their own school bag drives to provide supplies needed for a successful year. That all changed in 2012 when 10 organizations combined efforts to hold one bigger, better event for the children and families in the community. In doing so, this event is able to bring the community together to make a difference for the children in Coatesville and to ensure they are prepared for the school year.
Today, the committee consists of the Coatesville Area School District, Bridge Academy and Community Center, Coatesville Center for Community Health, City of Coatesville, Coatesville Soup Kitchen, The Movement, Coatesville Police Department, Coatesville Youth Initiative, County Corrections Gospel Mission, and United Way of Chester County.
Over 1,500 stylish back packs were filled and waiting to be chosen by students in the Coatesville Area School District with the help of 100 volunteers.
Approximately 100 volunteers, all dressed in blue shirts, greeted 1,384 students from kindergarten-12th grades in the Coatesville Area School District as they received school bags filled with age-appropriate school supplies. 1,558 book bags were collected, which exceeded the committee’s goal of 1,500.
Executive Director of the Coatesville Youth Initiative, Chaya Scott said the committee would continue to distribute the remaining bags to the schools throughout the year and will also touch base midyear with the schools and after school programs to refresh supplies.
“It was an amazing day…probably the best one so far.” Scott said.
As administrators and teachers from the Coatesville School District greeted students and met their families, excitement was in the air as all celebrated the beginning of the new school year. Along with free haircuts, provided by the students in the barbering program of the Chester County Technical College High School, there were balloons, moon bounces, snow cones, cotton candy and hot dogs for the children and families to enjoy.
Brothers Trey and Xander Natiello proudly smiled after picking out their new back packs Friday.
“It’s an amazing program. Coatesville has a bad rap and it’s so nice to see everyone come together for this,” said Cameron Natiello who attended the event with her two boys, Trey 8, and Xander, 5.
The Third Annual Coatesville Back to School Event was made possible through the generosity of the following organizations:
Red Sponsors
Brandywine Health Foundation
Bridge Academy and Community Center
Chester County Regional Education Services
Citadel
Coatesville Youth Initiative
Rita’s of Gap
Rita’s of Intercourse
Rita’s of Exton/Eagleview
Green Sponsors
Bell Chapel True Holiness Church of God
Brilliant Graphics
County Corrections Gospel Mission
CTDI
Derrick Morgan Foundation
Exton Sam’s Club #6558
Liberty Tax Services
Blue Sponsors
Rotary Club of Coatesville
Children’s Entertainment Sponsors
The Ollis Family
In-kind Donors
City of Coatesville
Wawa Charitable Foundation
YMCA of Greater Brandywine
Friends of the Coatesville Back to School Event
Grove United Methodist Church – Uniform Sponsor
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church – Uniform Donation
Technical College High School – Hot dog Sponsor
UPS Store 3093-Downingtown
Lauren Ferguson
Jerriann Manze
Crissy Mettinger
David and Jean Grace
Coatesville Soup Kitchen
Cricket Wireless
Bookbag and Supply Donors
Aaron’s
The Angela Hawkins Family
Bill Shaw
Bridge Academy and Community Center
Brilliant Graphics
Carol Tritt Family
Calvary Fellowship Church
Chester County Library
Chester County Health Department
Christ Community Church
Christine Lyons
County Corrections Gospel Mission
Coatesville Center for Community Health
Coatesville Area Senior Center
Coatesville Savings Bank
Coatesville Youth Initiative
Communication Automation Corp.
Crossfit Elation
Darletta Kelly
Diane Brownfield
Downingtown East Field Hockey
Dr. Leiss Orthodontics
Farmers Insurance- Denise James Agency
First Baptist Church of Pequea
Freedom Life Christian Church
Gateway Church
GE
Heidi Bowman Family
Henrietta Hankin Library
Hutchinson United African Methodist Episcopal Church Family
The Hutchinson Family
Iota Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated
Jill Santiago
Kennedy Family
King’s Highway Elementary School
Met Life
Pam Lathbury
Penn Premiere Dental
Pepperidge Farm
Romansville United Methodist
Sikorsky
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
State Farm Insurance
Urban Christian Bowling League
United Way of Chester County
Voya Financial, Community Partners
Willowdale Chapel
Of note: The committee for the Back to School event, who also thank the donors that chose to remain anonymous, provided this list. They apologize for any inaccuracies and welcome corrections.
Please visit the official site of the Coatesville Back to School: Prepare for Success for more pictures of the event or to contact.
