The Greater Twin Cities United Way (GTCUW) reported that one in 10 K-12 students in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. area return to school each year without the essential school supplies needed to help support their education. That number has continued to rise in recent years. Post Consumer Brands is proud to have once again partnered with GTCUW this year to help bridge that gap.
The official Action Day, organized by GTCUW, was held August 1 at Target Center in Minneapolis. As a sponsor of the event, 25 Post employees volunteered during that event, ahead of our own supporting satellite event at our Lakeville, Minn. corporate headquarters on Tuesday, August 6. Employees from our human resources, supply chain and legal teams from both our Lakeville office and Northfield, Minn. manufacturing site participated. Over a two-hour volunteer shift, PCB volunteers packed 400 backpacks for local students.
“Assembling 45,000 backpacks requires communities across the Twin Cities to come together. This incredible impact wouldn’t be possible without all the volunteers and corporate partners who have contributed this year. We are incredibly thankful for all the support, and we are so appreciative for Post’s continued partnership of our Action Day events,” said Melissa Wilson, Director of Engagement with GTCUW. “Thanks to these efforts, students from across the Twin Cities Metro will be prepared for the new school year.”
Through a satellite Action Day event at our Lakeville office, an additional 100 employees volunteered their time to help address educational disparities by packing 830 backpacks so students can go back to school ready to learn. Supplies provided include notebooks, pencils, folders, markers and more, depending on the age of the children receiving the backpacks.
Between Action Day and additional satellite events held at other Minnesota businesses throughout the summer – GTCUW aims to pack a total of 45,000 backpacks to distribute throughout the Twin Cities metro and surrounding areas. The backpacks assembled by Post employees will benefit students attending District 196, which includes Rosemount, Apple Valley and Eagan schools.
A special shout out to all volunteers who spent time helping GTCUW achieve their goal. We also wish all students, parents and teachers a wonderful upcoming school year! Learn more about Post’s community impact and volunteering efforts.