As the start of a new school year approaches, the United Way of the CSRA is asking for the community’s help to collect school supplies between July 1 to 29 to benefit local students in need.
“United Way of the CSRA works hard to ensure every single family has access to needed resources so that everyone has the opportunity to meet their goals, whatever they may be,” stated a press release from the United Way of the CSRA. “With more than half of our community either living in poverty or living paycheck to paycheck, we are committed to Leading Families Forward throughout our region.”
By collecting donations at several Stuff the Bus drives across the CSRA, the organization is hoping to alleviate some of the financial hardships associated with back-to-school shopping for families within the community.
Stuff the Bus events and drop-off points will include: advanced drop-off from July 1 to 27 at the WJBF Television Park located at 1336 Augusta West Pkwy or any Security Federal Bank in the CSRA; North Augusta’s SRP Park on Sunday, July 23, located at 187 Railroad Ave; the downtown Augusta’s Kroc Center on Friday, July 28, at 1833 Broad St. from 8 .am. To 12 p.m.; and Saturday, July 29, at the Walmart in Waynesboro.
Monetary donation can also be made online at www.uwcsra.org/2023-stuff-the-bus
All money received will be utilized to purchase school supplies and distributed to local school districts.
“We’re always willing to step in to help set students up for success by hosting collection drives for in-demand school supplies,” said Brittany Burnett, President and CEO of United Way of the CSRA. “With inflation and the rising cost of supplies, families need help now more than ever.”
Thanks to area businesses and members of the CSRA, last year’s Stuff the Bus events collected nearly 30,000 school supply items which were distributed to schools in Richmond, Columbia, Burke and other surrounding counties.
The first official Stuff the Bus collection drive event will take place on Sunday, July 23, at the SRP Park during the Augusta GreenJackets game; this event is in partnership with the SRP Federal Credit Union, WOW! Internet and the Augusta GreenJackets. For those who wish to donate at this event but cannot attend the game, the box office, the Hive Pro Shop or any SRP Federal Credit Union locations in the CSRA will all be accepting advanced donations for the drive until July 21.
The final Stuff the Bus event at the Waynesboro Walmart will be held to exclusively benefit Burke County students in need. The Burke County High School Marching Band, also known as the Pride of Burke County, will be on site as local volunteers “stuff” a Burke County school bus which will be parked in front of the Walmart.
All donated school supplies will be sorted, labeled, counted and loaded onto buses by local volunteers and then sent to various schools at the end of July.
