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Greene County students get new backpacks, school supplies during ‘Stuff-The-Bus’ event

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Louise Cooley, with the Flenniken Library in Carmichaels, helps children pick out free books during Greene County United Way’s “Stuff-The-Bus” program Wednesday at the Lions Club Park in Franklin Township.

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From left, Boy Scouts Nathan Phillips, 11, and Ben Shissler, 16, help Carley Morgan, 5, of Franklin Township, hop off the bus after she picked out a new school backpack, during Greene County United Way’s “Stuff the Bus” program Wednesday at the Lion’s Club Park in Franklin Township.

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Debbie Thompson of Richhill Township helps her daughter, Karissa Thompson, 9, pick out a school backpack during Greene County United Way’s “Stuff the Bus” program Wednesday at the Lion’s Club Park in Franklin Township.

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Children and families line up Wednesday in Lions Club Park in Franklin Township to get new school backpacks, during Greene County United Way’s “Stuff-The-Bus” program.

WAYNESBURG – A line of children and families waiting to get new backpacks and school supplies filled the Lions Club Park in Franklin Township Wednesday, much to the delight of “Stuff-The-Bus” organizers.

“I’ve never seen this big of a line before and it’s kind of freaking me out a little bit,” said Barbara Wise, executive director for Greene County United Way.

Students in grades kindergarten to 12th from across Greene County got to walk through a school bus to pick out a new backpack, full of school supplies, during Greene County United Way’s 14th annual “Stuff-The-Bus.”

Debbie Thompson, of Richhill Township, helped her two children, both of whom attend West Greene, pick out their backpacks Wednesday and called the program “a big help.”

Meanwhile, Jennifer Morgan, of Franklin Township, brought her 5-year-old daughter, Carley, to pick out a backpack before her first day of kindergarten.

“With the backpacks, books and notebooks, it’s one less thing on my mind,” she said.

Wise said in June she expected more families to sign up for the program this year because of Emerald Mine closing and a higher unemployment rate in the county. She said 380 people registered for backpacks, but several more who were unregistered also showed up.

“We make sure every kid has a backpack, even kids not registered,” she said.

Last year, the program provided 467 backpacks for children, but Wise said they expect to pass that number this year.

First Federal Savings and Loan of Greene County sponsors the event each year.

“Our community supports us, and we like to support our community,” bank President Judi Tanner said.

Members of Flenniken Library in Carmichaels were also a part of the program, passing out free children’s books.

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