STUFF THE BUS GATHERS NEARLY 16,000 SUPPLIES FOR LOCAL KIDS

Hundreds of people donated thousands of supplies to local kids Thursday through United Way’s 15th annual Stuff the Bus school supply drive.
Great Falls givers stuffed three school buses with 15,951 much needed items, including 401 backpacks, 2,408 notebooks, 1,662 packs of pens and pencils and 3,027 boxes of crayons, markers and colored pencils. An additional $4,000 was donated in cash and gift cards, which was used to buy additional supplies.
Throughout Thursday, people and businesses brought supplies to yellow school buses, kindly donated by Big Sky Bus Lines, parked at Target, the north side Walmart and the main Peak.
Roughly half of the supplies collected Thursday are donated by individual shoppers, but United Way also reaches out to businesses to do office supply drives. 
This year, DA Davidson Company, Columbia Grain, Fresh Life Church, Maurice’s, Montana Credit Union, NeighborWorks Great Falls, Pasta Montana, the Peak, Staybridge Suites ran supply drives. Walmart and Target also donated gift cards.
As the event has grown, United Way has expanded the number of children who receive supplies. Supplies from Stuff the Bus have been distributed through nonprofit organizations that work with children like the Boys and Girls Club and the Great Falls Children’s Receiving Home. 
Supplies and living essentials will be given to students through Great Falls Public Schools and rural schools in Cascade County. Stuff the Bus also supports the Back 2 School BLAST, which this year gave away more than 1,400 stuffed backpacks to local students.
Families who are in need of school supplies should contact their local school. 
People who weren’t able to give Thursday, can drop off items at United Way’s office, which is inside Loenbro at 1900 32nd Ave. NE, or donate either online at www.uwccmt.org or by mail at PO Box 1343. To buy a stuffed backpack costs $25.