Help Fill the Fords and Support Local Students This Back to School Season

By Scott Arnold

The community is invited to help fill two classic Ford trucks with school supplies during a fun-filled fundraiser supporting local students on Saturday, August 8th.

United Way Peterborough & District Campaign Officers Adeline Murphy and Elyse Belsey join Auto Connect Sales owners Cheryl Watson and Martin Tempelman, along with Tessa the four-legged greeter, in front of one of the classic Ford trucks that will be filled with school supplies during the Fill the Fords fundraiser on August 8th. (Photo by Scott Arnold)

Getting ready for a new school year is an exciting time for many families, but for others, buying even the most basic school supplies can be a challenge.

That's why Auto Connect Sales and United Way Peterborough & District are once again teaming up to help local students through the Fill the Fords school supply drive.

The community is invited to bring donations to Auto Connect Sales, located at 1175 Lansdowne Street West, on Saturday, August 8th, from 10 am to 2 pm, where two classic Ford trucks will be filled with essential back-to-school supplies for students across Peterborough and the surrounding area.

The event grew out of the successful partnership between United Way Peterborough & District and Auto Connect during last year's community donation drives.

"We saw such generosity from our community last year," said United Way Campaign Officer Adeline Murphy. "We wanted to build on that and do something even bigger this year."

The need continues to grow as more families seek help with back-to-school essentials. Donations of items such as pencils, pens, binders, calculators, notebooks and other school supplies will help ensure local students have what they need to succeed when classes begin.

"We're hearing from schools and community agencies that more families are needing support with these essential supplies," said United Way Campaign Officer Elyse Belsey. "These are items many of us take for granted, but they can make a huge difference for a student heading back to school."

Helping bring the fundraiser to life are two eye-catching classic Ford trucks, including a 1996 Ford F-150 and a 1951 Mercury pickup. The vintage vehicles have become a signature part of Auto Connect's community fundraisers, serving as the collection points for donated school supplies while giving visitors something special to see.

A vintage 1951 Mercury pickup is ready to be filled with school supplies as part of the Fill the Fords fundraiser, helping support local students ahead of the new school year. (Photo by Scott Arnold)

A classic 1996 Ford F-150 will once again help collect school supplies during the Fill the Fords fundraiser, serving as one of two donation vehicles for the community-wide back-to-school drive. (Photo by Scott Arnold)

While the goal is to fill the trucks, organizers say the day is about much more than collecting supplies.

Visitors can enjoy a community BBQ featuring generously donated food from King Street Market, while the first 100 eligible donations will receive a free scoop of Central Smith ice cream. Community mascots are expected to stop by, along with a Peterborough Police Service cruiser for children to explore.

For Auto Connect owners Cheryl Watson and Martin Tempelman, giving back to the community has always been a priority.

"This community has welcomed us, so we want to do what we can to give back," said Watson. "It shouldn't be hard to be a kid. Every child deserves the chance to be excited about going back to school and to have the same opportunity to succeed as everyone else."

Watson says no donation is too small.

"It doesn't matter if you bring a whole bag of supplies or just one pencil," she said. "Every little bit helps, and everyone is welcome."

Tempelman says helping others is simply the right thing to do.

"If there's anything we can do to help others, I believe it's our responsibility," he said. "Bringing joy to others brings joy to us."

Those unable to attend the August 8th event can still support the campaign. School supplies can be dropped off at several locations throughout Peterborough and the county until August 14th, including Auto Connect Sales. United Way also has an Amazon Wish List available for those who prefer to donate online, with items shipped directly to the organization.

A complete list of requested school supplies and drop-off locations is available on the United Way Peterborough & District website.

Whether it's a backpack full of supplies or a single pencil, every donation will help local students head back to school with confidence.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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