By JOHN LENTZ

Staff Writer

Volunteers spent three hot days earlier this month at Walmart and Staples in Aberdeen working for the good of Moore County children. Those efforts paid off for everyone involved, said Communities In Schools of Moore County Board Chairman Tom Cruce.

“This year the ‘Stuff the Bus’ campaign generated more than $17,000 in donated school supplies for Moore County Schools in just 20 hours,” Cruce said. “Now in our fourth year, we collected 20 percent more than last year and we matched the amount made the year before. I am very happy with this year’s results.”

From Aug. 3-5, Stuff the Bus volunteers handed out a list of needed school supplies to all interested persons entering Walmart and Staples. Participants then purchased items on the list and helped “stuff” the school bus parked outside with the items intended for the use of underprivileged schoolchildren this fall.

The supplies will be distributed among all 23 schools in the Moore County system.

The campaign received a welcome boost this year from Miss Moore County Summer Hennings, who Cruce said “helped tremendously” by promoting the program on-site.

“I had some school supplies that I wanted to donate to CIS that were part of a separate art supply drive I did last spring,” Hemmings said. “When I brought those supplies to them I asked if there was anything else they needed help with, and they said they always needed volunteers.

“I was grateful for the opportunity to help, so I put on my crown and went to Walmart, where I passed out fliers and encouraged people to donate to the Stuff the Bus campaign. Everyone was very nice, it was fun helping out, and it’s a great cause.”

Cruce thanked those involved in making the 2012 event a success.

“I extend my appreciation to Alicia Gatling, CIS site coordinator, and Julia Ambersley, Moore County Schools teacher and CIS board member, for their efforts,” he said. “We would also like to thank Walmart and Staples, who generously provided the donation locations. We thank our wonderful volunteers from the community, including PNC Bank, National Golf Club, First Bank, Moore County Schools, Southern Pines Rotary, Grace Church, High ‘Flyers’ from the Sandhills Community College Athletics Department, and a cheering section provided by the Pinecrest Cheerleaders.

“Thanks also go out to the Miss Moore County organization and to Miss Moore County herself, Summer Hennings, who brought greater attention to our need for back to school supplies.

“Our heartiest congratulations go out to all of you for putting children in need first. On behalf of the board of directors of CIS, we thank you.”

A nonprofit organization “with a major focus on mentoring schoolchildren, Communities In Schools of Moore County is designed to provide needed resources to the children and to encourage them to stay in school.

Contact John Lentz at (910) 693-2479 or jlentz@the pilot.com.