Rotary Club of Westerville, The Big Bus get involved in Night of Hope

Two prominent local nonprofits are joining with Westerville Education Challenge to participate in our 2024 Night of Hope!

The Rotary Club of Westerville and The Big Bus have launched the Fill The Big Bus Middle School Food Drive, which will culminate at WEC’s 2024 Night of Hope 5K, 1 Miler and Family Fun Run Aug. 24 at Westerville North High School.

“We are THRILLED to announce that we are teaming up with the Rotary Club of Westerville and The Big Bus, who will be joining us at the Night of Hope event!” WEC President Laura Hammer said in an announcement July 8.

The Food Drive is an effort to stock the pantries at all five Westerville middle schools, to provide supplies as needed for local students from families struggling with food insecurity. The Big Bus will be present at the Night of Hope – hopefully filled to the ceiling with donations!

This year, WEC’s 3rd annual Night of Hope 5K, 1 Miler and Family Fun Run on Aug. 24 will honor those lives lost to suicide, and work to raise mental health awareness in the community.

Registration opens at 5:30 p.m., and the 5K begins at 6:45 p.m. You can preregister for the Night of Hope runs and walks here.

About our new partners

Founded in 1959, the Rotary Club of Westerville is a service club of Westerville business and community leaders working to improve the community and larger world. Part of Rotary International, the club has awarded more than $600,000 in college scholarships to Westerville graduates since 1964.

It also stages Westerville’s Independence Day celebration, and participates in several programs benefiting the Westerville City School District.

The Big Bus, a local nonprofit founded in 2022, is a mobile tutoring organization that works to create multigenerational impact, empower families and bring educational equity to under-resourced areas of the school district.

“Let’s help the Rotary achieve their goal and fill ALL the middle school pantries by filling the Big Bus! They are seeking food items such as ramen, granola bars, fruit snacks, pasta, rice, mac & cheese, mini marshmallows, and instant oatmeal,” Hammer said.

Rotary Club President Brandy Deichert also announced the plan to join in the effort with the Westerville Education Challenge and The Big Bus, in an email to club members July 8.

“Basic needs must be met for students to thrive and hunger should never stand in the way of their success,” Deichert said. “Inspired by the heartfelt concerns of middle school staff about food insecurity, we launched the Fill The Big Bus Middle School Food Drive to take steps to ensure no student worries about their next meal.”

Deichert said the coordinated effort grew from conversations with Minerva Park Middle School Counselor Jill Huck and Minerva Food Service Manager Lauri Jones.  They mentioned a fill-the-bus food drive, and further conversations with Rotarian Tracy Davidson – also a Westerville school board member and board member for both Westerville Education Challenge and The Big Bus – grew into Fill The Big Bus Middle School Food Drive.

“Together, we can make a significant impact on their lives and create a brighter future for Westerville. We look forward to providing the Rotary Club of Westerville’s support for Night of Hope and to filling the Big Bus with food donations,” Deichert said.

More about our Night of Hope

Since its founding in 2009, the Westerville Education Challenge has supported more than 10,000 students through scholarships, mentoring clubs, grants for teachers, programs such as Challenge Day and mental health and wellness initiatives.

More than 1,500 community volunteers and 40 corporate and community sponsors partner with WEC and their contributions include thousands of volunteer hours and more than $400,000 in donations.

WEC’s Night of Hope raises funds for a variety of initiatives and programs that support student wellness and mental health in Westerville City Schools, including:

• The Hope Squad suicide prevention program
• Parent Prep workshops
• Where Everybody Belongs (WEB) program at the district’s five middle schools
• The LINK Crew program, launching at all three high schools this fall
• Care for Twinkle, a district Canine Companions facility dog based at Westerville South High School
• Annual WEC-sponsored scholarships for high school graduates

More information on the Night of Hope is available here. More information on the Fill The Big Bus Middle School Food Drive is available here.

Pizza, anyone?

Night of Hope sponsor Jet’s Pizza will set up during the event and serve free pizza to participants! THANK YOU to Jet’s, also a sponsor of our Hope Squad programs at all three Westerville high schools!

Additional sponsors are being sought for the Night of Hope 5K, 1 Miler and Family Fun Run. Local businesses are asked to consider the very reasonable $500 sponsorships, to get their logo on the back of our race T-shirts and affiliate with this wonderful event to help shine a light on mental health for all in our community!

Find more information on 2024 Night of Hope sponsorship here.