“Together We Own It,” a non-profit organization co-founded by Lindsay McManus, a Stevenson University senior Elementary Education major, and Katie Kirby, a Salisbury University senior majoring in Psychology, hosted a school supply drive to provide for local families for the upcoming school year
Throughout the month of August, the organization members promoted their event through social media and asked for donations of various school supplies. During the last week of August, a car filled with school supplies was set up at different local business locations so families and their children could stop buy and pick out the supplies they needed. By setting up a mobile “store,” children could pick out what fit their personality and what made them feel confident to have on their first day of school.
The mission of “Together We Own It” is to work with at-risk children to break the cycle of need and move forward by engaging in positive activities, inspiring peers and motivating others to be the best they can be. Katie Kirby states, “We strive to foster a sense of connection between youth and their community by connecting people and resources, mentoring, educational enrichment, and recreational empowerment.”
Pictured left to right: Kelsey Kinnear, Megan Madigan, Katie Kirby, and Megan Kotrla. Not Pictured: Lindsay McManus
Katie Kirby serves as a co-founder and President, and Lindsay McManus is the co-founder and Vice President. Three Stevenson University senior Elementary Education majors are also members of the executive board: Megan Madigan (Secretary), Megan Kotrla (Public Relations), and Kelsey Kinnear (Mentor Coordinator).
“Every person on the executive board has a passion for working with the children in the community,” says Megan Madigan. “We feel as if students should be prepared for school even if they cannot afford it. We wanted to make a difference in the lives of children and help them be ready to learn!”