The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties’ Stuff the Bus collection kicks off Friday, June 20. Items will be collected through July 23, 2014 and will be sorted at Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro on July 25, 2014. The literacy kits assembled will then be distributed to Rutherford County Schools and Murfreesboro City Schools for children pre-k through third grade.

Last year’s Stuff the Bus resulted in 17,264 items collected and 1,027 literacy kits assembled by 97 volunteers. This year, a goal is set in the amount of 1,500 literacy kits.

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
Colored pencils
Glue sticks (Elmer's)
Expo markers (dry erase)
Large pink erasers
Pencil sharpener (with cover for shavings)
New or gently-used books (appropriate for children 3rd grade or younger)

Public drop off locations include The Avenue Management Office, Hot Spot Tanning locations and Murfreesboro Medical Clinic locations. For drop off location addresses and to participate in the 2014 Stuff the Bus, visit www.unitedwayvolunteer.org or contact the United Way at (615)-893-7303.

Sponsors for this event include Nissan North America, Inc., Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital, Publix Super Markets Charities, Emergency Physicians of Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital, City Auto and Regions Bank.