Cram the Van has officially kicked off in Greenville.

The program, which provides local students with the school supplies they will need to start the school year off right, began Friday.

Norman-Blackmon Motor Company, along with Value Lot and other local businesses have teamed up to make the &uot;Cram the Van&uot; program possible.

The purpose of the program is fairly self-explanatory.

&uot;The idea is simple,&uot; said Todd Norman of Norman Blackmon Motor Company. &uot;The van will be at several locations around Greenville the next couple of weeks. We are asking everyone to pick up a few extra school supplies on their shopping trips and cram the van with school supplies.&uot;

The Cram the Van school supplies that are donated will benefit needy children at W.O. Parmer Elementary School and Greenville Elementary School when school begins Aug. 9. Items needed include Elmer’s Glue, crayons, washable markers, scissors, pencils, pocket folders, construction paper, wide ruled paper, rulers and five subject notebooks.

Norman said the program is an excellent way to help the community.

&uot;We saw this as a way to give back to the community,&uot; said Norman. &uot;It is hard for some families in the Greenville area to afford school supplies. But it is important that all children have the chance to begin school with all the supplies they need.&uot;

Steve McGough, acting manager of Fred’s, said he also felt this was an important program to participate in.

&uot;I think this is a great program to be a part of,&uot; said McGough. &uot;I am very happy that our store can be a part of something like this.&uot;

Over the next two weeks the &uot;Cram the Van&uot; van will be located at several local businesses. Donations may be crammed in the van as follows:

n Wednesday-Thursday July 28-29: Norman Blackmon Motor Company, all day.

n Friday July 30: Norman Blackmon Motor Company, 9 a.m.-3p.m., Wal-Mart, 4 p.m.-6p.m.

n Saturday July 31: Fred’s and Super Foods, 10 a.m.-1p.m. Wal-Mart 1 p.m.-3 p.m.

n Monday Aug. 2: Norman Blackmon Motor Company all day.

n Tuesday-Thursday Aug. 3-5: Value Lot, all day.

n Friday Aug. 6: Value Lot, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Fred’s and Super Foods 4 p.m.-7 p.m.

n Saturday Aug. 7 Wal-Mart 10 a.m.-noon, Fred’s and Super Foods noon-2 p.m.

Other local sponsors of the &uot;Cram the Van&uot; program include The Greenville Advocate, Q-94 radio, Camellia Printing, Fred’s, Super Foods and Wal-Mart.

Local residents can visit CramTheVan.com for more information on the Cram the Van program, including school supply lists and the latest updates to the schedule.