MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) - The back-to-school excitement is in full swing, but the real impact of United Way of South Central Tennessee’s 14th Annual Stuff the Bus is just beginning to unfold.
James Evans, Chief Communications Officer of Rutherford County Schools, praised the effort, telling volunteers and donors:
“These aren’t just pencils, scissors, and backpacks to the students that receive them. These supplies instill hope and confidence in students that need it most. Those are things that will never be taken away from them and will guide them through the rest of their school years and beyond.”
After eight weeks of countywide collection drives, nearly 56,000 school supplies were donated. More than 2,000 fully packed backpacks were distributed across a seven-county service area, helping ensure students start the year ready to succeed.
In addition to backpacks, United Way provided thousands of extra school and classroom supplies to support teachers across ten school districts year-round.
In 2024, the average family spent $140 per child on school supplies. For many families, that’s a financial strain—forcing tough choices between essential items like gas, groceries, or school needs. Through efforts like Stuff the Bus, United Way aims to ease that burden and help local families thrive.
This year’s Stuff the Bus sponsors include:
Ascension St. Thomas Rutherford, First Baptist Murfreesboro, Ingram Content Group, Middle Tennessee Electric, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Publix Supermarkets & Supermarkets Charities, Regions Bank, Andy Womack – State Farm Insurance, Volunteer Bank, Ascend Federal Credit Union, Rachel and Billy Bruce, City of Murfreesboro – Water Resources, Redstone Federal Credit Union, SmartBank, and Wilson Bank & Trust.
To learn how you can support United Way’s local initiatives, visit yourlocaluw.org.
