'Stuff the Bus' Starts Friday

Submitted by the United Way

The United Way is kicking off the 4th Annual “Stuff the Bus” campaign on Friday, June 21st in recognition of the worldwide United Way Day of Action.  This campaign collects backpacks, school supplies and donations to help low-income and homeless children around the County be ready to go back to school in the fall.  The supplies are distributed through the Santa Cruz County Office of Education Write Start program. Last year, this event raised over 600 backpacks filled with school supplies. This year we are setting a stretch goal of 1,000 filled backpacks.

The County Office of Education estimates there are nearly 4,000 children in our county classified as homeless or in transition. They are living with their families in shelters or motels – or their families have lost their homes and have moved in with relatives or friends. Help us send our neediest students back to school and ready to learn.

There are little school buses located around the county where donations can be dropped off including Stuff the Bus sponsors Bay Federal Credit Union and Santa Cruz County Bank. For locations, call 2-1-1. Filled backpacks can be sponsored for $25 and are available at all Palace Art and Office Supply locations. The campaign runs until August 3rd, when volunteers will gather at the Palace Art parking lot in Capitola to “Stuff the Bus” with donated school supplies.

To learn more including locations of collection buses, list of needed items, volunteer, or donate online, visit www.unitedwaysc.org