The College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Troy University is helping make a difference for children of incarcerated mothers through its Pack the Bus initiative. In partnership with Aid to Inmate Moms and the Anthropology Club, the initiative brought the TROY community together to collect essential school supplies for children across Alabama, helping ensure they have the resources they need to begin the school year prepared to learn, grow and succeed.
The initiative was inspired by a desire to help children who may face additional challenges as they prepare to return to school. With school supplies and clothing often playing an important role in a child’s academic and social experience, the Pack the Bus drive sought to help ensure children of incarcerated mothers have access to the resources they need to begin the school year prepared to learn, grow and succeed.
For Dr. Stephen Carmody, the initiative was especially meaningful because of his years of work with Aid to Inmate Moms and his connection to the field of education.
“I have school-aged children, and I know how important back-to-school time is for them,” said Dr. Stephen Carmody, the Director of the School of Social Sciences. “It is an exciting time of year when children can shape their identity for the year with material items their parents can afford, like school supplies and clothes. But what does that look like for children whose parents cannot afford to purchase these items? Those kids get left behind both academically and socially. I have worked with Aid to Inmate Moms for years. This opportunity presented itself to me, and I jumped on it. I thought it could be a way for those of us who have so much to give to those who have so little. Especially being involved in education, I think it hits home for us a little harder.”
The idea quickly grew through collaboration with faculty, students and campus organizations. After discussing the initiative with colleagues, Carmody introduced the project to students in TROY’s Anthropology Club, who embraced the opportunity to participate. The Anthropology Club and Sociology Club even turned the project into a friendly competition, with students constructing two school bus collection boxes for the drive.
Throughout the month of July, members of the TROY community donated a wide range of school supplies, including:
- 66 three-ring binders
- 62 folders
- 160 pencils
- 200 pens
- 320 markers
- 340 colored pencils
- 39 packs of crayons
- 61 notebooks
- 29 pencil pouches
- 38 packs of paper
- 6 highlighters
- 64 composition notebooks
- 31 glue sticks
- 29 pairs of scissors
- 50 erasers
- 25 pencil sharpeners
- 4 boxes of tissues
- 1 pack of colored construction paper
The donations will benefit children participating in Aid to Inmate Moms’ programs throughout Alabama, helping provide them with essential supplies for the upcoming school year.
Beyond providing school supplies, Carmody hopes the initiative can help raise awareness of the unique challenges faced by children whose mothers are incarcerated. While they may experience social and emotional challenges as a result of their parent’s incarceration, they are not responsible for the circumstances that surround them.
“That they are just children who did nothing wrong and they deserve the same opportunities as all children,” said Dr. Carmody. “Yet they are the ones who bear the shame and stigma of incarceration every day in the community.”
Through Pack the Bus, the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences and its partners demonstrated how a simple act of generosity can make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families. By providing students with the basic tools they need to succeed, the initiative aims to help them begin the school year feeling prepared, supported and ready to learn.
