With school just weeks away, William Allen is stocked up and ready to go

From left, Rochester Schools Supt. Kyle Repucci, Victory Club President Matt Negm and Tom Gray, from school maintenance help to stack school supplies on a table outside the William Allen School on Wednesday (Rochester Voice photos)

ROCHESTER - Nearly three months after organizing a fund-raiser to provide school supplies for needy students at the William Allen School Mary Welch's efforts finally came to fruition on Wednesday, just a couple of weeks before the new school year begins.
On hand to thank Welch and the Victory Club, which facilitated much of the fund-raising, was Rochester Schools Superintendent Kyle Repucci as well as William Allen Principal Dustin Gray.
"This is great," said Repucci as he looked over a truck loaded with boxes upon boxes of school supplies.. "It will start the kids off on a good note."
Welch, who in her childhood attended the William Allen School, said she began the effort after receiving what she called a "financial blessing" several months ago and wanted to give back.
She said she remembers well how she struggled in her youth to pay for items needed to get her own children ready for that first day of school.
Magic markers, notepads, crayons, pencils, pens, glue sticks, tissues, rulers, calculators. The list went on and on, she said.
"When I was bringing up my kids, I would see the items the school suggested we have for our kids, that was a lot of stress for me," she said.
The major fund-raiser was a meat-bingo style event at the Victory Club in June, where almost $2,000 was raised.
The event gave those in attendance a chance to win gifts donated by local businesses.
Matthew Negm, president of the Victory Club, said that when he learned Welch, who is a bartender there, was planning the fund-raising effort, he knew he wanted to back her efforts.
"That's what we're about at the Victory Club," Negm said on Wednesday. "We give back to worthy causes."

Negm added that they still have lots of supplies left over that will be going to the city's other elementary schools.
Gray said teachers too often use their own money to buy school supplies for the neediest students.
He said when he got an email from Welch saying she wanted to help, he was thrilled to have her backing.
Negm said the supplies he delivered on Wednesday run the gamut from cleaning supplies to glue sticks, pencils, dry erasers, markers and white boards, ear buds.
"We couldn't be more appreciative," Gray added.
Wendy Davis, who often visits the Victory Club, was a major help to Welch in getting businesses to donate services and products for the meat bingo.
"She has been instrumental in getting some 90 percent of the donations," said Welch, who, herself, has donated more than $500.

SUPPLIES APLENTY: From left, Victory Club Manager Heather Ricard, Victory Club President Matthew Negm, Rochester Schools Supt. Kyle Repucci, Tom Gray of school maintenance, William Allen Principal Dustin Gray and Assistant Principal Melissa Dorsey.

Some of the items that were donated to the June meat bingo included two state inspections at Hervey's Tire, Pampered Chef items plus gift card from Tanya Poole, complete car detailing from 603 Details LLC, two $50 gift cards from The City, $50 Amazon gift card, $100 Market Basket gift card, $50 Spaulding Steak & Ale gift card, $25 Jimmy Jones Locker gift card, $25 Little Miss Sophies gift card, Spa gift basket from Katie, a $70 annual subscription to The Rochester Voice, matching stainless steel mugs from Roxann Talbot, a gift card from Sanders Fish Market of Portsmouth and a gas gift card from George's Sunoco.

Due to a prior commitment, Welch was unable to attend Wednesday's event, but said on Wednesday she was thrilled with what they were able to donate.