NEW PHILADELPHIA - United Way of Tuscarawas County officials are asking the community to help make sure the area's youngest students have a successful year at school.   

Community Relations Coordinator Susan Reidenbach says they're partnering with HARCATUS Head Start to host a "Stuff the Bus" school supply collection at the New Philadelphia Walmart during Ohio's Tax-Free Weekend August 2nd-3rd. Reidenbach says they'll have volunteers stationed outside the entrances both days from 10 am to 6 pm handing out a list of needed supplies and collecting those items. Cash donations will also be accepted with checks payable to United Way of Tuscarawas County.

Reidenbach says they will also have collection boxes available at Buehlers, DoverPhila Federal Credit Union, First Federal Community Bank, and First National Bank of Dennison locations throughout the county and at McInturf Realty and Shoe Sensation in New Philadelphia. She says the collected items will be inventoried and distributed to Head Start classrooms throughout Tuscarawas County. A full list of needed items can be found online at www.tuscunitedway.org. 

Reidenbach says area businesses can also help out by hosting their own "Stuff the Bus" collections. She says people can request a collection box by calling 330-343-7772 or emailing susanr@neohio.twcbc.com.

HARCATUS Head Start serves children ages 3-5 with family incomes at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level. United Way of Tuscarawas County President Robin Waltz says each year over 350 preschoolers start the school year lacking adequate supplies to make their educational experience a success. 

“The Head Start program approached us with the idea to partner to help provide much-needed supplies for their students and classrooms, we were eager to help how we could," she says. "The 'Stuff the Bus' idea was a perfect solution to a need in our area to help improve the educational environment of children and families in our local communities.”

HARCATUS Head Start Director Nancy Reed says every item donated is greatly appreciated whether it is a box of tissues or a package of pull-ups.