Stuff the Bus : 2022

 

 STUFF THE BUS

This year, requests for school supplies through the Stuff the Bus program have increased by 40% from 2021.

Although there is more demand than ever, donations have not kept pace, and we are running incredibly low on supplies.

Your help is needed! Help local students start the year off right with the school supplies needed to succeed.

 

We are urgently seeking:

  • Lunch boxes

  • Spiral notebooks (college and wide ruled)

  • Highlighters

  • Markers (thick and thin)

  • Sharpies (regular and fine point)

  • Earbuds

  • Loose leaf graph paper

  • 2" and 3" binders

  • Teen backpacks

 

Supplies can be dropped off at Community Thread (2300 Orleans Street West, Stillwater) until 4pm this Wednesday, August 17.

Online donations can be made by visiting our website (please specify Stuff the Bus in the Notes section).

Thank you for your support!

The cost of school supplies that comes with sending a child to school can be very expensive. Community Thread and United Way of Washington County – East recognize the importance of helping all kids succeed by providing them with the basic tools needed to start the year off right in class.

In 2021, Stuff the Bus served 464 students attending school within the Stillwater Area School District (a 31% increase from 2020.) Although the majority of students served were in elementary school, 220 students in middle school and high school received supplies as well. In all, 203 households were served by the program (a 31% increase from 2020).

This year, we expect the number of families seeking help to increase once again. Thanks to the generosity of organizations, individual donors, and sponsors in the St. Croix Valley, we are optimistic that we will be able to serve all families who come to us for support.

Below you will find details on how you can help students in the Stillwater Area School District have a successful school year.

DONATE

Donations of new school supplies will be collected July 5 – August 12. Drop off new school supplies at Community Thread, 2300 Orleans St. W., Stillwater, MN 55082.

New school supplies are also being collected at these businesses:

 American Family Insurance

Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute

Cub Foods

Daily Grind

Eckberg Lammers

Edina Realty

First Resource Bank

First State Bank and Trust

Guardian Angels Church

Lake Elmo Bank

MidWestOne Bank

Optimal Life Chiropractic

Sletten Orthodontics

Stillwater Motors

United Way of Washington County-East

US Bank

Click here to view school supplies needed.

Prefer to do your shopping online? 

Use our Stuff the Bus Amazon Wish List to purchase needed supplies.

If you or your business are interested in collecting school supplies please contact Lois Conn at Lois@uwwce.org

REGISTER FOR SCHOOL SUPCPLIES

Families can receive free school supplies for their children. Supplies will be available on a first come, first serve basis.

Families in need will be able to register for free school supplies online July 25 at 9am through August 8 at 12pm.

Visit the registration form for more information!

Vea el formulario de inscripción en español aquí.

 

VOLUNTEER

Stuff the Bus allows volunteers to make a difference in many ways. School supplies will need to be sorted and counted, each family’s list for each child needs to be assembled and bagged, and lastly, we will need volunteers to run bags, check in and monitor traffic on the pick up days.

Volunteer as an individual, family or team. Volunteers must be 8 years of age or older for counting and sorting, and 18 years of age or older for supply list shopping & assembling and curbside pick-up.

Volunteer registration will open July 11. Visit the volunteer page for more information!

 

QUESTIONS?

Call Community Thread’s Volunteer Center at 651-439-7434 or United Way of Washington County – East at 651-439-3838.

If you would like to make an online donation to Stuff the Bus, click here and designate your donation to Stuff the Bus.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Sponsorship opportunities are available for this year’s Stuff the Bus initiative!

The 2022 Stuff the Bus Sponsorship Packet will be available online Friday, June 10. In the meantime, please contact Cathleen Hess, Development & Communications Director at cathleen@communitythreadmn.org or 651-439-7434.