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Salvation Army of Greater Milwaukee Assistant Divisional Director of Development Faithe Colas presents the donated backpacks and school supplies to the students.
The sixth annual “Class Act School Supply Drive” raised more than $66,000 to provide students in Milwaukee County with classroom supplies before they start the school year. From August 21 – 22, 2018, WISN 12 hosted a phone bank and dedicated significant airtime reaching out to its viewers with a critical call to help kids in need.
In addition to monetary donations, gracious viewers from across Southeastern Wisconsin came together to “Stuff The Bus,” filling an entire full-sized school bus with backpacks, notebooks and other necessities. WISN 12, The Salvation Army and radio station 96.5 WKLH banded together with a coordinated campaign involving an on-air live phone bank, online fundraising and in-person donations.
With the money and supplies raised this year, the “Class Act School Supply Drive” will provide more than 4,400 backpacks full of supplies to be handed out to four MPS schools including Congress School, Forest Home Avenue School, Manitoba School and Fifty-Third Street School. Additional supplies benefit Salvation Army programs including The Emergency Lodge. Between the efforts of WISN 12 staff, Salvation Army volunteers, and radio station 96.5 WKLH, donations exceeded this year’s goal of $50,000.
“In the six years of the ‘Class Act School Supply Drive’ we have raised more than $350,000 for school supplies,” said Ben Lorber, director of programming and public affairs for WISN 12. “The program has provided more than 23,000 backpacks full of supplies for area students, an amazing testament to the continued generosity of the people in Southeastern Wisconsin.”
