Rochester Public Utilities | Blog

Running Start for School

  • Imagine if it was your first day of school and you were the only kid in the classroom who didn’t have a backpack or the supplies needed to get you through the year. You’d probably feel embarrassed and a little bit overwhelmed, especially when all the other kids have everything they need to start fresh for the days ahead.

    Whether you know it or not, there are many families in Olmsted County who struggle to send their children to school with all the required supplies they’ll need for the school year. It’s becoming especially harder for some families during these rough economic times.

    The community recognizes such circumstances and United Way is again sponsoring the Running Start for School campaign, a program that provides school supplies to children in Olmsted County who qualify for free or reduced lunches. Rochester Public Utilities is proud to participate in this program for the second year in a row. Last year RPU donated three tubs and numerous backpacks full of school supplies. RPU hopes to double the number of donations this year with the increasing number of eligible students.

    Your support and donations can and will, make a difference in the life of a child. Not only do small children need supplies, but older students need them as well. Now is your chance to help a child keep his/her head held high and start the school year with a great big smile.

    This year RPU has also volunteered to be a drop off location for community donations. If you’d like to donate supplies or backpacks, RPU will have a donation tub located in the lobby at the main office building located at 4000 East River RD NE. Cash donations are also accepted for purchasing supplies.

     

    The Running Start for School program will continue now until August 13th.

    Below is a link to the official Running Start for School site in which you can download a list of school supplies, learn more about the program, and find out more about other drop off locations.

    United Way of Olmsted County Running Start for School – 2009