Just as parents take their children back-to-school shopping, the Schuylkill United Way has a summertime tradition in an effort to collect school supplies for needy families.
The 10th annual Stuff the Bus program will kick off Friday at three county-based indoor malls - Cressona Mall, Fairlane Village, Pottsville, and Schuylkill Mall, Frackville - and run until July 26, according to William J. Folk III, Schuylkill United Way director of community relations.
"Some families are not able to afford the necessities that are required for their child's education. The Schuylkill United Way recognizes and understands this need and is proud to host 'Stuff the Bus,' " Folk said.
The program started in 2002, Folk said.
"I did some digging this morning in our archives and found out that it is the 10th year. We started the program in 2002 as the 'Stuff A Bus' promotion which collected school supplies for 320 children the first year. The name has since been changed to 'Stuff The Bus' and our need for supplies is for over 1,000 backpacks this year," Folk said.
The program encourages the public to donate school supplies to the United Way. The drop sites are school buses parked inside the malls.
Donations can include school supplies like pens, pencils, markers, binders, folders, rulers, crayons, highlighters, staplers and notebooks. Supplies can be loaded into the buses through an open window.
The supplies are distributed through Schuylkill United Way partner agencies - Avenues, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boy Scouts of America Hawk Mountain Council, Child Development Inc., Schuylkill YMCA, Schuylkill County Society for Crippled Children, SARCC, Schuylkill Wellness Services, Schuylkill Women In Crisis, Pottsville Salvation Army, Tamaqua Salvation Army and Tamaqua YMCA.
"Last year's event was a great success with over 950 children receiving back-to-school items due the generosity of the community. This year, an even greater demand is expected and more supplies need to be donated to ensure that those in need receive school supplies," Folk said.
To further encourage donations, Schuylkill United Way and Schuylkill Mall have set up a series of special promotions. For example, anyone going to "Movies on the Mountain," the drive-in theater at the mall, on July 13 or 14, can receive a discount on admission if they make a donation to Stuff the Bus, Folk said.
There will also be a "Stuff the Bus" promotion during Schuylkill County Idol X, which began Tuesday.
"For every item donated to 'Stuff the Bus' during the event, attendees of the event will receive one ticket for the raffle prize drawing," Folk said.
He said prizes will include: tickets to the Reading Phillies, tickets for Mountain Valley Golf Course and tickets for Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, all courtesy of radio station T-102; movie passes to Schuylkill Mall Theatres; a gift certificate courtesy of Black Diamond Antiques; and Schuylkill Mall gift certificates, all courtesy of Schuylkill Mall.
"There will also be autographed sports memorabilia signed by players from the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Yankees, courtesy of S&B Sports Promotions. And Auntie Annie's is donating five pretzel combos. Additional prize donations are still being accepted," Folk said.
