United Way & HARCATUS

As the 2026-2027 school year nears, the United Way of Tuscarawas County is once again partnering with HARCATUS Head Start to “Stuff the Bus” with school supplies for preschoolers ages 3 to 5, and the community is invited to join the effort. The list of requested items is tailored to children ages 3 to 5 as there is a need for many non-traditional school supplies. This year’s list includes Pull-Ups (sizes 3T/4T, 4T/5T, XL), unscented wipes, Crayola crayons (regular and large), Kleenex, paper towels, Crayola washable markers, Elmer’s glue/glue sticks, Mr. Clean Magic Erasers, craft feathers, Pom-Poms, paint sticks, laminating sheets, 8-oz. bottles of water, Bingo markers, Playdoh and Playdoh tools, cookie cutters, Band-Aids, blunt children’s scissors, bubbles, clear packing tape, coats/pants/tops/shoes (sizes 3T-5T), socks/underwear (sizes 3T-5T), colored tape/blue Painter’s Tape, construction paper, card stock, stickers, foam shapes, paint brushes/dabbers, chalk/sidewalk chalk, pipe cleaners, playground balls, Model Magic modeling dough, watercolors, and preschool storybooks. Cash donations and checks made payable to United Way of Tuscarawas County will also be accepted.

During the entire month of July, the community is encouraged to drop off donations in the “Stuff the Bus” boxes at any of the public collection sites located at area businesses, including Andreas Furniture in Sugarcreek, the Mayor’s Office in Dover, City Hall in New Philadelphia, the New Philadelphia Police Department, the New Philadelphia Fire Department, the Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital Outpatient Pharmacy in Dover, any branch of the DoverPhila Federal Credit Union, the Tuscarawas County locations of First Federal Community Bank (Dover Financial Education Center, Boulevard, New Philadelphia, Uhrichsville, and Sugarcreek), the First National Bank of Dennison locations in Dover and Dennison, McInturf Realty in New Philadelphia, the Parkway Auto Group (311 Commercial Parkway in Dover), Trinity Twin City Medical Center in Dennison, the Tuscarawas County Child Support Enforcement Agency in New Philadelphia, and WJER Radio & WTUZ in New Philadelphia. Special thanks to Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital North Dover Urgent Care and Dover Chemical, who are collecting supplies from their employees to contribute to the effort.

The culminating event where all collected supplies will be stuffed into an actual school bus will take place during Ohio’s Sales Tax Holiday on Friday, August 7^th and Saturday, August 8^th from 10:00am to 4:00pm at Walmart in New Philadelphia. That weekend, volunteers will be stationed at each store entrance with the list of needed items, and Walmart shoppers can purchase supplies tax-free to donate to the effort. All donated items will be distributed to HARCATUS Head Start classes throughout Tuscarawas County. HARCATUS Head Start serves children ages 3 to 5 years old from families with incomes at or below 100% of the federal poverty level.