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 15th annual Stuff the Bus school-supply drive began in June and will run through July 31. 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.; 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 60 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 numerous 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, rulers, safety scissors, pens and pencils, highlighters and erasers. Also requested are dry erase markers, earbuds, pencil sharpeners, crayons and boxes of tissues.
Special acknowledgement goes to the Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs for supporting the Backpacks for Bright Futures project, which distributes school supplies to students in the Frederick City feeder schools in partnership with Stuff the Bus. This year, backpacks for the distribution are being provided by the Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs.
On Monday, July 31, FCPS school buses will make stops at participating businesses to pick up donated school supplies. Community partner agencies will assist in distributing the supplies; details on times and dates are available by clicking this link: https://www.fcps.org/about/files/news-docs/StuffTheBus_2023.pdf
Distribution sites include the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ Stake Center, with assistance from The Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs 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 hundreds of bins of supplies were collected and distributed to Frederick County school students. An estimated 90,358 items were collected, valued at $75,054. Thousands of items were purchased with donor gifts.