Automotive group will also provide 750 backpacks filled with school supplies to city children at National Night Out on August 1 as part of its “AAA Cares” program.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Matt Maisel, Communications Director
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(717) 255-7295
SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP, Pa. — AAA Central Penn is helping the City of Harrisburg give back to the people who give back to our children.
As part of its AAA Cares initiative, AAA Central Penn is gifting the City 750 free memberships for one year, designed to go towards City of Harrisburg police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and teachers. City officials will work with the Bureau of Police, Bureau of Fire, Community LifeTeam EMS, and school teachers in the city to ensure everyone who wants a one-year, free-of-charge membership can get one.
“We have to take care of those who take care of our youth,” said Rob Finley, Vice President of Automotive Services at AAA Central Penn. “They are the ones who support and protect our kids, and we want to give them the sense of security and safety by giving them a AAA membership. If we can give them a peace of mind of when they’re traveling to know that if they need us we’re there, that is very important.”
Along with free memberships to city-wide first responders, AAA Cares and Finley’s nonprofit, Educating Athletes Together, are providing at least 750 free backpacks for city youth. These backpacks will be available at Harrisburg’s National Night Out on Tuesday, August 1.
The backpacks are made available by Donegal Insurance, and will have notebooks, rulers, binders, pencils, erasers, and more.
“So many of our kids are facing challenges at home, and if they can come to classroom prepared, they and their parents can just focus on getting an education, and taking advantage of those opportunities,” said Dennise Hill, Director of Building and Housing Development for the City of Harrisburg. “We know our first responders, and teachers, and education staff have their hands full, so this is a way to support them from the outside. That way our kids and our community members have everything they need.”
According to a USA Today study, caregivers are expected to spend $661 per child from Kindergarten through 12th grade. In 2022, AAA Central Penn was able to donate 750 backpacks containing essential school supplies to children throughout Central Pennsylvania. This year, they will provide more than 1,000 backpacks to support students throughout the Harrisburg region.
