For many Great Falls families, buying the basics to get their children ready to start school is a struggle.
To help, United Way is collecting school supplies and living essentials as part of its annual Stuff the Bus drive Thursday, Aug. 6. More than 100 volunteers will be at one of three buses donated by Big Sky Bus Lines that are parked at Target and both Walmarts, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Supplies collected through community drives and from shoppers that day will be given to local kids through the public schools and area nonprofits like the Great Falls Children’s Receiving Home, Boys & Girls Club and St. Vincent de Paul.
This year’s Stuff the Bus will also provide supplies for the Back 2 School Blast on Aug. 14. The Back 2 School Blast will have free food, free haircuts, free backpacks and more at Montana Expo Park.
The deadline to preregister is July 27. Find information about where to preregister, how to give and volunteer at www.B2SBlast.org.
Pre-registered families can get backpacks from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kids who haven’t pre-registered for backpacks are still able to get one on a first come basis, from 1-3 p.m.
“Many of our kids need more than crayons and calculators,” said United Way of Cascade County Marketing Director Kim Skornogoski. “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.”
Many lessons involve computers and other technology, making inexpensive earbuds or headphones as important as notebooks and pencils.
Now in its 16th year, the Stuff the Bus event has grown, reaching more and more students in need. Skornogoski said last year people 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.”
Topping the list of needed items are backpacks, composition notebooks, earbuds and dry erase markers.
People can donate either online or by mail at PO Box 1343, Great Falls, MT 59403. To sponsor a student is $50.