Tornado recovery: 900 backpacks, school supplies donated for Trotwood students

Local radio station, sorority help students in need
Volunteers with the Alpha Kappa Alpha help unload a bus full of school supplies to be donated to Trotwood students.

Volunteers with the Alpha Kappa Alpha help unload a bus full of school supplies to be donated to Trotwood students.

Hundreds of backpacks and school supplies were dropped off in Trotwood Sunday afternoon for children impacted by the Memorial Day tornadoes.

Dozens of members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha met at the Trotwood Fire Station on Sunday to unload an RTA bus stocked with supplies for families of Trotwood students. Radio personality and Program Director with 92.1 WROU Faith Daniels has been spending her Sundays collecting school supplies for those in need for nearly a month with her Stuff the Truck program.

Archdeacon: Two of Trotwood’s favorite sons planning to open sports complex

“It’s an incredible outpouring of love for the city and the children of Trotwood,” Daniels said. “The beautiful ladies of my mother in-law’s sorority came through in a way that I have asked God to do because the donations were looking a little slim and they came through with an entire RTA bus full of school supplies and I am moved to tears.”

Volunteers with the Alpha Kappa Alpha help unload a bus full of school supplies to be donated to Trotwood students.

icon to expand image

Daniels estimates that the program has gathered nearly 3,000 school supplies. On Sunday, Alpha Kappa Alpha successfully donated more than 900 backpacks to be distributed to Trotwood students.

“The people that this is going to help, they’ll never meet and they’ll never probably cross paths,” Daniels said.

Reasons not to miss the Greene County Fair — including a fundraiser for tornado victims

Carrie Clark, Alpha Kappa Alpha Great Lakes regional director, says that philanthropy is a large part of the sorority’s mission and that the organization has a personal connection to the community.

“Due to the tornado storms that took place in May, we found out that some of our members were drastically impacted as a result of the storms. And so what we want to do is not only help them but to help the people that are in the community,” said Clark.

The backpacks and supplies will be distributed at the Trotwood Community Center on Aug. 3. Daniels notes that after devastation, a small gift can make a big difference.

“I have children, so I know what it’s like to be able to make a difference in their lives. It touched me today when I showed up and saw the bus. Ohio is definitely rising up and we’re giving back to make sure that what we do in the community is effective, impressionable, and it’s going to be memorable. My heart is full.”

‘It’s about the people’ — how one non-profit is helping Dayton recover


COMPLETE TORNADO COVERAGE

Find out how to get help, read the latest stories and get specific news by community at DaytonDailyNews.com/tornado

About the Author