Stuff the Bus
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on August 5, 2015 1:46 PM
"I always consider the News-Argus Stuff the Bus campaign to be the official kick-off for the season," Mrs. Bennett said. "There is a need for people to continue to respond to the needs of the children in this community so that there's no child sitting in school that does not have the tools they need to be successful."
The donation process has already begun, with items being dropped off in advance in the lobby of the News-Argus. They will also be collected after Friday for those who miss that opportunity.
"Churches, civic groups, if they have donations, they can call me -- 919-735-1432 -- and we can pick them up," Mrs. Bennett said. "We need school supplies not just now but even as late as December because we have so many transient kids coming in during the year."
Monetary donations are also accepted for those who prefer to contribute financially. Checks can be made out to Communities in Schools and will be added to the school supply fund.
"It's a tax-deductible donation and it will all go to the same thing if that's what they want to do," she said. "Last year when we finished with all of the school supply drives we had brought in a little over $20,000 in supplies and money for those supplies.
"For this year, I would like that to be bumped up to $25,000."
The behind-the-scenes process of the school supply drive is an involved one, Mrs. Bennett says.
Communities in Schools might be in the forefront and the big school bus the most visible reminder, but Wayne County Public Schools is a key player in the effort.
"I coordinate with the school social workers and counselors to get the supplies in the hands of the kids most in need, otherwise I would have a steady stream of people in my office," she said. "The counselors, they know which kids need these supplies. There's always a need.
"Wayne County Public Schools, they're in total cooperation in helping us get these supplies delivered to the schools. I will have a team of volunteers who will go to the schools next week, they'll count and sort. The operations department picks them up and delivers them."
In addition to the typical things students need to start school -- paper, pencils, spiral notebooks -- broaden the scope to upper grades as well, Mrs. Bennett said.
"One thing that people don't think about is the high school and even middle school kids," she said. "They need thumb drives because that's a necessity for them. That's one of the big changes that we have had is the need for not just elementary school supplies but also through the high school.
"And we need bookbags that are age-appropriate for kindergarten children, but also big and sturdy ones for high school students."
Small boxes of tissues and hand sanitizer as well as packets of wipes are also considered requisites for school children, she said.
Mrs. Bennett said she looks forward to another successful year and is confident that will happen.
"It's a real example of a community effort and a partnership between businesses, civic organizations and churches, individuals and the school system working with CIS to make it all happen," she said.
Even Board of Education member Jennifer Strickland used part of her board comment time Monday night to make a plug for the upcoming event.
The self-professed "coupon crazy" mother of four issued her own plea for the public to support "Stuff the Bus."
"I love couponing and this time of year, even though I don't want to see my kids go back to school, I'm so excited because the newspaper is full of back-to-school ads with discounted products and with coupons so that you can get these things for free," she said. "So you can actually rattle in your car seats and in your couch cushions and find that 50 cents and go buy a couple notebooks at Staples this week.
"I encourage everybody to please go out and do that and help the students of Wayne County and teachers."