FCPS and United Way join community partners to kick-off of the Stuff the Bus campaign at the United Way’s Prosperity Center. Left to Right: Jeneen Stewart, FCPS; Joyce Kwamena-Poh, United Way; Lara Stine, Boys and Girls Club of Frederick County; Landen Lombardo, United Way; Veronica Henry, United Way; Ashley Waters, Rotary Club of Carroll Creek; Melissa Muntz, SHIP of Frederick County; Eric Stephens, i-9 Sports; Erin Lawson, United Way; Evan Rogers Bates, YMCA of Frederick; Aje Hill, I Believe in Me; Jackie Stribling, Boys and Girls Club of Frederick County
Each year generous Frederick County businesses and citizens help students start school with the necessary supplies that some families cannot provide. This year is no exception. The fourteenth annual Stuff the Bus school-supply drive begins Tuesday, July 5, and plans for the drive are already well underway. More than 30 Frederick businesses and organizations make it easy for the public to participate.
The public may drop off supplies at the Frederick County Public Schools Central Office, 191 S. East Street in Frederick, Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m., to the United Way of Frederick County office at the Bernard W. Brown Community Center, 629 N. Market Street in Frederick, or any of more than 30 other locations throughout the county, listed online at www.unitedwayfrederick.org/StuffTheBus. Some of the locations include Costco, Frederick Health Hospital, KinderCare Learning Centers, the Mental Health Association and multiple banks. A complete list of drop-off site addresses, as well as a supply list and additional information about participating or making a monetary donation are online at www.unitedwayfrederick.org/stuffthebus.
Supplies needed range from sturdy backpacks and composition books to loose-leaf paper, pocket folders, glue sticks, safety scissors, pens and pencils, highlighters and erasers. Also requested are colored markers, index cards, spiral notebooks, rulers and boxes of tissues.
On Wednesday, August 3, FCPS school buses will make stops at participating businesses to pick up donated school supplies. Community partner agencies will assist in distributing the school supplies; see details about dates and times posted at the above-referenced website. Distribution sites include the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Stake Center with assistance from Rotary Club of Carroll Creek and Backpacks for Bright Futures, Heritage Park’s Whitmore Building with assistance from Walkersville Glade Community Services, Graceham Moravian Church, Middletown Fire Company Activities Building with assistance from Middletown Valley People Helping People, and the Lions Merryland Park with assistance from BEACON.
Last year over 300 bins of supplies were collected, 35 pallets of school supplies donated by Walmart and thousands of items were purchased with donor gifts with an estimated 262,298 items valued at $65,575 were distributed to Frederick County School students.
For more information, please contact Jeneen Stewart, FCPS Supervisor of Student Supports (Jeneen.Stewart@fcps.org) 301-644-5345, or Joyce Kwamena-Poh of the United Way of Frederick County, (jkwamenapoh@uwfrederick.org) 240-578-4009.