Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato today announced 13 collection sites for “Gear for Grades,” an effort to collect and distribute school supplies to underprivileged and homeless children in our region. The program is sponsored by Citizens Bank, the Homeless Children’s Education Fund, and Renda Broadcasting’s WJAS-AM.

“In these tough economic times, families are struggling to make ends meet, and we want to make sure that all kids feel the happiness and excitement of going back to school with new supplies,” said Onorato. “Our region is famous for stepping up and helping those in need, and I know we’ll have a tremendous outpouring of support for this important effort.”

The public is asked to bring new school supplies to any of the following County locations:

County Executive’s Office, County Courthouse Room 101, 436 Grant St.;
Court Records Criminal Division, County Courthouse Room 114, 436 Grant St.;
Department of Real Estate, County Office Building Room 101, 542 Forbes Ave.;
Marriage License & Passport Office, City-County Building First Floor, 414 Grant St.;
Court Records Civil/Family Division, City-County Building First Floor, 414 Grant St.;
Human Services Building Lobby, One Smithfield Street; and
Boyce, Hartwood, North, Round Hill, Settler’s Cabin, South and White Oak park offices.

Collection boxes are available weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. through Friday, August 6. Donations are also being accepted at any Citizens Bank branch during regular business hours.

On August 16, Gear for Grades partners will gather at Citizens Bank’s Downtown Pittsburgh headquarters to load 4,000 backpacks with school supplies onto two school buses for distribution to Allegheny County homeless shelters. Citizens Bank will also distribute backpacks to homeless shelters and social service agencies in Beaver, Butler, Erie, Washington and Westmoreland counties.