The upcoming school year will get off to a good start for needy children in the Capital Region

The upcoming school year will get off to a good start for needy children in the Capital Region thanks to assistance from Pioneer’s annual School Supply Drive.

On Thursday, August 29 at 3 p.m. at the Capital City Rescue Mission at 259 South Pearl Street in Albany, Pioneer employees will help present 183 backpacks filled with pens, pencils, crayons, glue sticks, paper, notebooks, rulers and other essential items to students in need.

More than 4,800 items were collected over the past month across Pioneer’s 22 local branches and through employee donations. In addition to assisting children in partnership with the rescue mission, Pioneer employees are also distributing school supplies this week to children in need in Rensselaer and Saratoga Counties. 

The effort supports the Pioneer Charitable Foundation’s mission of “Helping Kids be Kids.” In its first five years, the foundation has provided $1.6 million to more than 400 local nonprofits that serve vulnerable children, from housing, nutrition and health care assistance to educational, social and recreational programs. In addition, Pioneer employees have contributed over 16,000 hours in local volunteer service.

The event will provide excellent photo/video and interview opportunities in a highly visual setting. Reporters, photographers and videographers are welcome to attend.