United Way’s school-start initiative reaches 800 Hunterdon County children

United Way of Hunterdon County’s second annual Start School Strong program connected more than 800 students and their families with backpacks, health screenings and support services across seven Hunterdon County communities. The effort delivered an estimated $389,900 in direct household value while linking families to resources that can help them all year.

Why it matters: - The initiative gave Hunterdon County families a one-stop way to get school supplies, health support and community services before the school year began. - United Way of Hunterdon County said the program is designed to reduce barriers for families and help children start school prepared and confident. - The effort also created measurable savings for households through backpacks, school meal applications and access to public benefits and support programs.

What happened: - United Way of Hunterdon County held the second annual Start School Strong program across seven Community Resource Days in Hunterdon County. - More than 800 children began the school year with backpacks, school supplies and family support tied to the events. - The events took place in communities including Clinton, Milford, Glen Gardner and Flemington. - Schools, municipalities, healthcare providers, nonprofits and businesses partnered on the countywide effort.

The details: - Volunteers and partners distributed 803 backpacks filled with school supplies. - United Way estimated the backpacks delivered $80,300 in direct value to local families. - Volunteers helped families complete 258 school meal applications. - United Way estimated those applications unlocked $309,600 in annual food savings through New Jersey’s free school meals program. - Healthcare partners provided 195 biometric health screenings before the school year began. - Families also received information about NJ FamilyCare, healthy eating, food pantry resources, bike safety, financial wellness and youth savings tools. - The events included food trucks, games, face painting and other family activities. - Children wrote down personal goals for the school year during the gatherings. - United Way said the initiative generated an estimated $389,900 in direct household value and savings. - The program connected hundreds of families to ongoing community resources beyond the start of school. - Thirty-five community partners supported the effort. - More than 150 volunteers contributed over 560 hours planning, coordinating and staffing the events.

Between the lines: - The program moved beyond a traditional backpack giveaway and into a broader community resource model. - Bringing services to seven local sites likely made participation easier for families who might not travel to a single hub. - The mix of practical help and child-centered activities suggests United Way aimed to reduce stigma while increasing engagement. - Jennifer Thompson, CEO of United Way of Hunterdon County, said families should not have to choose between school supplies, healthcare guidance and resource information.

What's next: - United Way is positioning Start School Strong as a continuing countywide model for connecting families with support at the start of the school year. - The organization said the resource connections made at the events can continue helping families after school begins. - Thompson said the goal is to keep removing barriers so children can thrive throughout the year.

The bottom line: - Start School Strong turned back-to-school season into a coordinated community support effort that delivered supplies, services and measurable savings across Hunterdon County.