Churches, organizations hope to ‘Stuff the Bus’

Businesses, organizations and churches are teaming up to Stuff the Bus. The annual school supply drive is underway throughout Superior.

The Superior Federation of Teachers provided 81 backpacks to students last year with a helping hand from Target. But, said member Emily Sharrow, it “fell far short of the number needed.”

Kathi Madsen, executive director of the United Way of Superior-Douglas County, estimated that approximately one-third, or 2,400 of the students in the Superior School District are in need of supplies and backpacks this fall.

Sharrow said the teachers are hoping to partner with the public this year. They will be accepting new and gently-used backpacks and monetary donations at Holden Insurance Agency in the Blaine Center, 823 Belknap St.

“We are hoping to engage the community in hopes of collecting enough backpacks for every student who needs one,” she said. There is a particular need for them at Superior High School, Sharrow said.

The United Way has begun to purchase notebooks, pens, paper and pocket folders for distribution at the high school. These are the basics, Madsen said, but with them “kids can take notes in class their first day.”

High school supplies are being collected through Monday at Stuff the Bus drop off sites, with distribution earmarked for Wednesday. Items for middle and elementary school students will be collected through Aug. 24 and be available to children on the first day of school. The most needed items include crayons, scissors, pencils, wide-ruled paper, spiral notebooks, markers, highlighters, hand cleaner, tissues, colored pencils, pens and pocket folders.

Drop off sites for Stuff the Bus supplies include Superior Choice Credit Union, 2817 Tower Ave.; Esterbrooks, Scott, Signorelli, Peterson, Smithson LTD, 1511 Tower Ave.; M&I Bank, 1425 Tower Ave.; and the Telegram, 1226 Ogden Ave. Several churches are also collecting supplies for specific churches in their area, Madsen said.

People or groups can contact Madsen at (715) 394-2733 for information, or to volunteer or donate.

Tags: news, superior, youth, schools, education