https://development.triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/vandergrift-police-partner-with-kiski-area-east-primary-to-collect-back-to-school-supplies/
Vandergrift police partner with Kiski Area East Primary to collect back-to-school supplies
The Vandergrift Police Department is hosting a back-to-school supply drive for students at Kiski Area East Primary School in the borough.
The annual collection is in collaboration with the school’s Parent Teacher Organization.
Donated items may be dropped off through Aug. 15 at the Vandergrift Police Station at 109 Grant Ave.
Vandergrift police Chief Joe Caporali said the collection helps defray costs normally incurred by teachers.
“It doesn’t just help the students, it helps the teachers. These are nonbasic school items the school district does not pay for,” Caporali said.
This year’s list of requested items — in order of greatest need — are: tissues, dry erase markers, backpacks for boys, Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer and crayons.
Monetary donations also are being accepted and will be used to purchase additional back-to-school supplies.
The drive is organized by Vandergrift police Officer Joe Gray.
Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review Donated back-to-school supplies await students enrolled at Kiski Area East Primary School in Vandergrift.The importance of the police department’s involvement in the supply drive is not lost on Pat Marchand, principal of Kiski Area East Primary School.
“East Primary has a great working relationship with the Vandergrift police officers who are in our school on nearly a daily basis conducting patrols and interacting with our students, whom they’ve developed a wonderful rapport with,” Marchand said.
In addition to the annual school supply outreach, Vandergrift officers help to serve lunch to students in the cafeteria, host an annual Christmas gift distribution for students and provide Thanksgiving dinners for families in need.
Kiski Area East Primary enrolls about 420 students.
Vandergrift Councilwoman Marilee Kessler volunteers for the drive and recently dropped off several boxes of crayons, tissues and markers.
“This drive has been going on for several years, and it’s important that the students can see the police department as a positive force in the community,” Kessler said.
Donated items may be left in care of Gray at the police station.
Caporali said if nobody answers at the police station, the public can call 911 and request a Vandergrift officer return to the station to collect the items.
Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)