This year’s annual Stuff the Bus through United Way is Aug. 7.
Three buses will be taking donations from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., one in the Target parking lot and one at each Walmart location.
United Way’s goal is to support local families who struggle to buy the back to school basics for their children. The supplies collected will be given to nonprofits such as Great Falls Children’s Receiving Home, Boys and Girls Club and St. Vincent de Paul.
Supplies will also be used at this year’s Back 2 School Blast on Aug. 15.
The Back 2 School Blast will take place in the Montana Expo Park where there will also be:
- free haircuts
- free food
- free backpacks
Families that pre-register for Back 2 School Blast can get their backpacks from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kids who are not pre-registered are able to receive bags on a first come basis from 1-3 p.m.
“Many of our kids need more than crayons and calculators,” Kim Skornogoski, United Way’s marketing director said in a release. “We know that if students don’t have shampoo to wash their hair, or have a toothache from not brushing their teeth, they can’t focus as well in the classroom.”
Donations for personal care items will also be accepted.
As technology usage changes in the classroom, inexpensive earbuds or headphones are starting to become just as important as classic school supplies.
Since it began 15 years ago, Stuff the Bus has grown, reaching more students with more than 100 volunteers and last year, locals donated more than 18,000 items.
“Each year, the community amazes us with their generosity,” Skornogoski said. “And as a result, we are able to help more and more kids.”
This year, the most in-demand items include: backpacks, composition notebooks, earbuds and dry erase markers.
Here’s a full list of needed supplies:
- notebooks
- 3-ring binders
- dry erase markers
- highlighters
- pencils
- crayons
- calculators
- scissors
- glue/glue sticks
- backpacks
- inexpensive headphones/earbuds
- composition notebooks
- lunch boxes
- books (new or gently used)
- 2-pocket folders
- toilet paper
- tissues
- paper towels
- non-perishable food
- toothpaste
- toothbrushes
- shampoo
- conditioner
- laundry detergent
- dryer sheets
- diapers
- combs
- new children’s clothing (socks, shoes, underwear, shirts, pants)
- liquid soap
- hand sanitizer
If you’re unable to make it to a bus, donations can be made online or by mail at P.O. Box 1343, Great Falls, MT 59403.
It’s $50 to sponsor a student.
