Ride for supplies
August 1, 2007 Photo By Kevin Graff/The Review
Mike and Artie Geiger, at left, Alliance Mayor Toni Middleton, Tom Geiger, Kim Knowles, and Dave and Theresa DeUnger hold backpacks as they prepare for the Ride For School Supplies that benefits local students.
By STEPHANIE UJHELYI
The Review Elizabeth Penird, along with her childhood friend Aaron Hill and his wife, Sarita, teamed up last year to distribute bookbags, haircuts and school supplies to students as close as Marlington and as far away as Akron.
This year, with the assistance of fundraisers, she is hoping they can double that.
Mike and Artie Geiger have organized a Ride For School Supplies, a run from Alliance Evangelical Friends Church through Columbiana, Jefferson and Carroll counties. The cost to enter the event, which will be held Aug. 11, is $10 plus a bookbag, or $15 without the bookbag.
Artie Geiger said registration for the ride will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the church with food available for purchase. Starting at noon, bikers will be escorted via police motorcade, where they will meet with Alliance Police Chief Lawrence Dordea and Mayor Toni Middleton at the county line for the two-hour trip. Part of the event will include an observation hunt.
Midway through the ride in Amsterdam, they will pull over for a snack, said Geiger.
The trip will culminate back at the church, where prizes will be awarded to the observation hunt winner as well as those in categories such as youngest rider, longest distance and oldest bike.
Geiger hopes that this event will help to expand availability to even more children than last year.
According to Penird, "Last year, we gave out bookbags and supplies to 500 children and 130 vouchers from community shops for haircuts. Our goal is to make this a community event -- not just a church event."
The program has been stocking up since last year and Hill hosted a roller skating party in Deerfield Township's Starlight.
Last year, Penird, a stay-at-home mother of two, said they ran out but all children still got school supplies. "We found out what they needed, picked them up and delivered them to school for them," she said. Kids also enjoyed pizza while picking up their supplies, thanks to local shops that donated 50 large pies for the event.
"Being prepared for school really helps kids' self-esteem. It helps them to want to go to school when ready. Kids are overjoyed to get a new pack of crayons, something that we may take for granted every day. We are really blessed and want to share that," Penird added.
Aug. 25 is the date with distribution set from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone is eligible.
"I don't want any child to be left out," Penird concluded.
For more information on the Ride For School Supplies, call (330) 525-7172 or on school supplies distribution, call (330) 823-9536.
August 1, 2007 Photo By Kevin Graff/The Review
Mike and Artie Geiger, at left, Alliance Mayor Toni Middleton, Tom Geiger, Kim Knowles, and Dave and Theresa DeUnger hold backpacks as they prepare for the Ride For School Supplies that benefits local students.
By STEPHANIE UJHELYI
The Review Elizabeth Penird, along with her childhood friend Aaron Hill and his wife, Sarita, teamed up last year to distribute bookbags, haircuts and school supplies to students as close as Marlington and as far away as Akron.
This year, with the assistance of fundraisers, she is hoping they can double that.
Mike and Artie Geiger have organized a Ride For School Supplies, a run from Alliance Evangelical Friends Church through Columbiana, Jefferson and Carroll counties. The cost to enter the event, which will be held Aug. 11, is $10 plus a bookbag, or $15 without the bookbag.
Artie Geiger said registration for the ride will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the church with food available for purchase. Starting at noon, bikers will be escorted via police motorcade, where they will meet with Alliance Police Chief Lawrence Dordea and Mayor Toni Middleton at the county line for the two-hour trip. Part of the event will include an observation hunt.
Midway through the ride in Amsterdam, they will pull over for a snack, said Geiger.
The trip will culminate back at the church, where prizes will be awarded to the observation hunt winner as well as those in categories such as youngest rider, longest distance and oldest bike.
Geiger hopes that this event will help to expand availability to even more children than last year.
According to Penird, "Last year, we gave out bookbags and supplies to 500 children and 130 vouchers from community shops for haircuts. Our goal is to make this a community event -- not just a church event."
The program has been stocking up since last year and Hill hosted a roller skating party in Deerfield Township's Starlight.
Last year, Penird, a stay-at-home mother of two, said they ran out but all children still got school supplies. "We found out what they needed, picked them up and delivered them to school for them," she said. Kids also enjoyed pizza while picking up their supplies, thanks to local shops that donated 50 large pies for the event.
"Being prepared for school really helps kids' self-esteem. It helps them to want to go to school when ready. Kids are overjoyed to get a new pack of crayons, something that we may take for granted every day. We are really blessed and want to share that," Penird added.
Aug. 25 is the date with distribution set from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone is eligible.
"I don't want any child to be left out," Penird concluded.
For more information on the Ride For School Supplies, call (330) 525-7172 or on school supplies distribution, call (330) 823-9536.
