As summer quickly comes to an end, many parents are wondering if they will be able to purchase new backpacks and school supplies for their children or if they should put food on their table. With increased costs for American families, preparing children for the new school year has become a financial challenge.
To help with this burden, Univest is excited to once again be partnering with the United Way of Bucks County to serve as the presenting sponsor of Stuff the Bus. At Univest, we are committed to giving back to the local communities we serve, and this is the perfect way to stay true to our philanthropic spirit.
In addition to supporting this program with a financial donation, we are hosting collections for backpacks at our Bucks County Financial Centers and encouraging employees to get involved. Members of the Univest Family will also be volunteering to help package and distribute backpacks to schools and families in Bucks County. This is a great example of our holistic approach to giving back. We don’t just write a check; we also roll up our sleeves and get involved. Our ability to embrace this partnership is a testament to the Univest Family’s dedication to our community-based values.
With every four out of 25 children in Bucks County coming from economically insecure households, partnering with Stuff the Bus is one way Univest can help ensure that the children in Bucks County receive the necessary supplies to excel in school. Last year, we were able to assist in providing backpacks and school supplies to 3,355 kids. We were inspired by the gratitude of the families supported by this program as we helped ease the burden of obtaining school supplies and are hoping to increase our impact this year!
Stuff the Bus is an amazing opportunity to help students kick off the school year focused on learning. We encourage Bucks County residents to join us in giving back. If you are not able to make monetary donations, volunteering with United Way is a great way to lift up local families.
For nearly 150 years, Univest has led with a commitment to service. We realize we are only as strong as the communities we serve, which is why we supported nonprofit organizations with financial contributions totaling $2.4 million in 2023 – with 43% of those donations supporting youth and education.
We hope you will join us in helping to Stuff the Bus as we strive to improve the quality of life for our local friends and neighbors in the community.
About the contributor: Betsy Roush is Vice President, Community Relations for Univest Financial Corporation.