United Way and Salvation Army partner for Stuff the Bus
By Charles Christian
The United Way is taking advantage of the coming tax-free weekend to stuff buses full of school supplies for the coming year.
The agency will have buses to collect donations on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 2 and 3, at St. Joseph’s North and South Belt Walmart locations. Items collected will be turned over to local agencies, including the Salvation Army, to distribute supplies to families in need.
Kylie Strough, president of the United Way of St. Joseph, said the community’s generosity during the Stuff the Bus campaign allows students to benefit.
“We have been fortunate the last several years,” Strough said. “We’ve gotten supplies beyond what is needed. So our team at United Way will serve families and children until supplies run out.”
LeeAnn Hobson, Salvation Army office manager, said the agency could not reach hundreds of students during its annual distribution without the partnership with United Way’s Stuff the Bus program.
“We have tried in the past to do it on our own,” Hobson said. “This partnership makes it easier both on the collection side and the distribution side.”
Hobson said anything Salvation Army can do to help people in this challenging economy makes the work of volunteers worthwhile.
“Even buying groceries anymore is a stretch,” Hobson said. “This is something we can do to help out and to make it so they have that extra money that they don’t have to spend on school supplies.”
The United Way Stuff the Bus program will be collecting supplies from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Aug. 2, and from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 3. Volunteers are still needed and can sign up by contacting Jodi Flurry at the United Way at 816-364-2381 or jodi.flurry@stjosephunitedway.org.
The Salvation Army plans to have its back-to-school distribution from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8. Parents or guardians only should attend and bring proof of St. Joseph residency, the child’s date of birth (including Social Security numbers) and bills or food stamps. The distribution will be held at 602 Messanie in St. Joseph and is for grades K through 12.
If parents miss the Aug. 8 distribution, Strough said they can contact the United Way for help.
