Stuff The Bus School Supplies Drive Kicks Off In San Diego County

SAN DIEGO, CA — The annual Stuff the Bus school supplies drive kicked off Tuesday in San Diego County.

The San Diego County Office of Education and San Diego County Credit Union have partnered for the 11th straight year to help students experiencing homelessness. More than 23,000 school-age children in the San Diego region have been identified as experiencing homelessness, according to the Office of Education.

"Each year, we hear from educators about how much these supplies mean to the children who receive them," said Susie Terry, coordinator of homeless education services at the San Diego County Office of Education.

"For families who are struggling just to get by, something as simple as a new backpack or a set of pencils can bring hope, dignity, and a sense of belonging," Terry said. "Stuff the Bus truly has an impact, and we are deeply grateful for our continued partnership with SDCCU and their unwavering support in helping our students feel seen, supported, and ready to learn."

The office and credit union, along with iHeartMedia and Jersey Mike's, aim to collect thousands of dollars in online and in-store donations to purchase pencils, pens, binders, crayons, backpacks and more during the campaign. A portion of donations will also assist San Diego Youth Services in providing meals for homeless youth through its various food programs.

The Stuff the Bus campaign will collect monetary donations online or in-store at participating Jersey Mike's locations in the county.

In 2024, the Stuff the Bus campaign raised $111,000 in monetary donations to help purchase more than 8,900 backpacks filled with supplies for students in the county.