Amberleigh 'packed the bus' for those less fortunate school children

The children are the future, and the residents of Amberleigh Retirement Community went all out to ensure the upcoming school year would be bright for less fortunate students in Western New York.

Amberleigh collected and donated more than 1,000 pounds of brand-new school supplies of all kinds from Aug.1-16 from both its resident and members of the community to pack a small school bus that was provide by Jim Nestico, area transportation coordinator at First Student.

"Our goal was to fill the school bus parked at the entrance to our community with brand-new school supplies and then deliver them to The Teacher's Desk located at 22 Northampton St., in Buffalo at the end of our school supply drive," said Amberleigh Executive Director Margaret Kleinmann. "Not only did we meet that goal ... but we also collected $1,500 in cash donations so The Teacher's Desk can purchase additional school supplies that are needed most by the teachers for their students.

"The Teacher's Desk was selected as the recipient of this school supply drive because it is the perfect outlet that ensures that the school supplies we have collected will get into the right hands to help those in most need."

John Mika founded the Teachers Desk in 2011. Since its opening, The Teacher's Desk has distributed almost $2 million in free school supplies to 4,000 teachers and 25,000 students in need throughout Western New York. Its vision is to encourage teachers, and to give students in need hope for the future.

Each month, Amberleigh residents select a philanthropic organization or cause to donate their time and efforts toward. Residents take great pride in being able to give back to their community.

Kleinmann gave special thanks to Walgreen's, a co-sponsor of this school supply drive, which collected school supplies at all area locations, and to First Student, which donated the use of a bus and drove all the supplies down to The Teacher's Desk at the end of the drive.

Amberleigh Retirement Community is located at 2330 Maple Road in Williamsville. The community offers independent one- and two-bedroom apartments on 23 acres of land in a park-like setting.