Rowland Unified took one of its new buses out for a test spin on Aug. 2. It parked the big yellow bus outside the entrance to Puente Hills Mall and invited shoppers to fill it with school supplies for the new school year.

Soon pens, pencils and crayons began filling the school bus as moms and dads shared some of the school supplies they were buying for their own kids.

A local shoe and clothing company, Aldabella Scarpa, partnered with the mall to collect donations for students in the Rowland Unified School District.

"We wanted to give more back to our community and schools," explained Xiomara Tapia for Aldabella Scarpa.

For the past five years, the company has sponsored a special shoe event, giving

Steve Morey, assistant manager with Staples, delivers donations to bus at the Puente Hills Mall. (Staff Photo by Keith Durflinger)
new shoes to more than 300 girls in La Puente. This year's giveaway is set for Aug. 16 at Hurley Elementary. The company donates a pair of its designer shoes to needy children with every pair purchased.

"A simple donation of a box of crayons, a notebook or a few erasers may not seem like much but it gives these children the tools to succeed," said Monica Gonzales, co-owner of Aldabella Scarpa.

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