The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties is still collecting items for Back to School kits for kids Kindergarten through fifth grade now through July 22, 2015.
This year, the United Way is looking to increase corporate and community collection sites to reach its goal of 2,015 Back to School kits in 2015. This will increase the number of children reached by nearly 25% over last year. Focusing on one of the United Way's priority community issues, helping children and youth succeed, the kits contain resources that students need to encourage school readiness.
Last year's Stuff the Bus resulted in nearly 38,000 items collected and 1,500 literacy kits assembled by 148 volunteers. The kits were delivered to schools in Rutherford County and Murfreesboro City.
James Evans, Community Relations Coordinator for Rutherford County Schools, said, "There are many families in our county who struggle to pay for school supplies and efforts like Stuff the Bus provide a boost to ensure students start the year prepared to learn. Rutherford County Schools is grateful for the assistance of the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties and all the community partners who help make Stuff the Bus a success."
Items needed for the kits include:
- Scissors (Fiskar)
- Paper- wide ruled notebook paper, craft paper or handwriting paper
- Composition notebooks with wide ruled notebook paper
- Crayons (24 count Crayola)
- Pencils (No. 2)
- Markers (Crayola) broad tip classic colors
- Glue sticks (Elmer's)
- Expo markers (dry erase)
- Large pink erasers
- Folders with pockets and prongs
- 1" 3 ring binder
- Earbud headphones
- New or gently-used books (appropriate for children 5th grade or younger)
To help the annual Stuff the Bus campaign, visit www.unitedwayvolunteer.org or contact Lisbeth Couser at Lisbeth.Couser@yourlocaluw.org.
Stuff the Bus event sponsors include City Auto, Regions Bank, Guaranty Trust Company, La Vergne Smiles Family Dentistry and UPS.
