Help ‘Stuff the Bus’ with Supplies for Local Students

Some kids dread hearing it: “back-to-school.” But with the ever-increasing cost of school supplies, kids likely aren’t the only ones dreaming of endless summers.

In an effort to assist parents and students, is once again hosting “Stuff the Bus,” a weekend-long donation drive to be held Aug. 12-14.

During the event, and Hayward Unified school buses will be parked outside of Wal-Mart in Union Landing. Generous Wal-Mart shoppers may purchase items from a list of supplies to help fill the bus with donations for students.

“Last year’s ‘Stuff the Bus’ was a tremendous boon for our students, especially those from families for whom purchasing school supplies is an additional financial burden at the start of the school year,” said New Haven Superintendent Kari McVeigh in a press release.

According to McVeigh, shoppers donated thousands of writing instruments, hundreds of binders and folders, and hundreds of reams of paper. The supplies were distributed to students from all grade levels and were used throughout the school year, she said.

Volunteers from the , Rotaract of Fremont, the New Haven Schools Foundation and others from the community will greet Wal-Mart shoppers and accept donations from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. However, donation bins will be available 24 hours each day, said Jody Stowers, a manager at Union City Wal-mart.

Next weekend’s event is just one of several campaigns to help assist students and families with back-to-school supplies.

The New Haven Teachers Association’s summer backpack drive is currently under way to help ensure that students “get off to a great start” in the fall, said NHTA President Charmaine Kawaguchi in a press release.

Donations may be dropped off from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the NHTA office, 32980 Alvarado-Niles Rd., No. 812. Cash donations are also accepted.

Also assisting locally is the which, through a partnership with national non-profit Kids in Need Foundation, will provide about 1,500 backpacks stuffed with school supplies to New Haven students and about 5,000 in total to select locations spread throughout the country.

“All students deserve the basic school supplies in order to succeed in the classroom,” said Dave Smith, executive director of the Kids In Need Foundation, in a press release. “Children who are provided with the proper tools for school continue to show academic progress and improvements in grades and test scores, as well as academic behavior.”

The backbacks will be distributed to New Haven students later this month.