For the third year, the Daviess County and Owensboro Public School districts have teamed up to invite the community to support students across the community as they prepare for the start of a new school year.
“Stuff the Bus” is sponsored by the DCPS and OPS Family and Youth Services Centers.
Both districts will have school buses located in the parking lots of the two local Walmart stores. Donations can also be dropped off at Fifth Third Bank’s main branch at 500 Frederica Street.
Donations of school supplies will be accepted at drop off locations and can be purchased from any store, not just Walmart.
Each Walmart location will have a list of recommended school supplies for various grade levels, but other supplies are welcome.
“We try to make donating easy for patrons by providing them with a list of most needed items,” said OPS Youth Service Coordinator Amanda Hirtz. “Monetary donations are also appreciated.”
DCPS Youth Service Coordinator Heather McCarty said that they try to evenly divide the supplies between all of the Family Resource and Youth Service Centers in the DCPS and OPS school systems.
“We rely heavily on these items for back to school for our students in need of help with supplies,” McCarty said.
Hirtz said that in the last two years, over $50,000 of school supplies have been given to students in both districts. Students are able to use the donations immediately and throughout the school year.
“The $50,000 of school supply donations from the community means that schools and FRYSCs do not have to purchase as many supplies for students, and FRYSC grant funds can be used to sponsor additional programs or help students in other ways throughout the year,” Hirtz said.
Community volunteers from Old National Bank and US Bank, along with school volunteers help the YSC coordinators at each location collect donations and promote the events. Hirtz said that OPS has seen an increase in teachers who want to help promote this community-wide event.
“I think it’s great when the teachers volunteer as they see first hand how our community supports the students in their classrooms, thus supporting them,” Hirtz said. “I believe every student with OPS and DCPS is directly impacted through this event. Not only do we have students who need their whole school list supplied by FRYSC, but we also have teachers who need classroom supplies for all students to use…When someone donates a couple of boxes of crayons or scissors, they are providing tools for students to create and learn for the whole year.”
McCarthy said that kids from the community like to make donations as well, something she sees as a life lesson for them “to help others who may need a helping hand this time of year.”
Requested school supplies include loose-leaf paper and notebooks, school glue, scissors, rulers, pens, pencils, highlighters, crayons, folders, binders, backpacks and calculators.
Buses will be parked at the Walmart stores at 5031 Frederica St. and 3151 Kentucky 54 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, July 26.
