Community Asked to Help 'Fill a Bus' With School Supplies

Donations are sought of things like pencils, notebooks and other school supplies to "fill a school bus" for students in need in the Rowland Unified School District, district officials announced Wednesday.

Come August 2, a 32-foot-long school bus will be parked outside the AMC Theater entrance to the Puente Hills Mall, with volunteers collecting donations such as: crayons, pencils, paper, erasers, colored pens/pencils, binders and calculators.

“A simple donation of a box of crayons, a notebook or a few erasers may not seem like much but it gives these children the tools to succeed,” said Monica Gonzales, co-owner of Aldabella Scarpa, a local shoe and clothing company who donates a pair of their designer shoes to American children in need with every pair of shoes purchased.

Those who donate will also be able to help the district get more "points" from the mall, who runs a program called "Earning for Learning"-- awarding a total of $10,000 to local schools every year, according to Gina Ward with Rowland Heights Unified School District.

The fill-a-bus event runs from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Puente Hills Mall, located at 1600 S. Azusa Avenue in the City of Industry. 

The Rowland Unified School District serves 16,000 students at 20 elementary and secondary schools in the communities of Rowland Heights, La Puente, City of Industry, West Covina and Walnut, according to the district.