Stuff the Bus setting new record, official says
By Sierra Henry
Published in News on August 14, 2018 5:50 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Wil Vazquez Lopez and other volunteers organize and count schools supplies Monday at Greenwood Middle School. The supplies were donated during the Stuff the Bus drive Aug.8. Communities Supporting Schools will distribute the supplies to schools around Wayne County.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Organizers believe this year's Stuff the Bus event has brought in donations of supplies and money valued higher than last year.
The Stuff the Bus donation drive will accumulate an estimated value of $25,000 in school supplies and monetary donations by the end of the month, said Selena Bennett, Communities Supporting Schools executive director.
Last year, Communities Supporting Schools acquired a record total of $23,000 worth of schools supplies and monetary donations. The organization is expected to surpass that record this year according to Bennett, who estimated that CSS has already collected and sorted at least $20,000 in school supplies.
Several donations from various organizations are expected to be made within the next week.
"I think we're going to beat last year's record based on what I'm seeing and knowing the number of organizations that have not come on board yet, but have called me to say, 'we'll have supplies ready within the next two weeks," Bennett said. "I think people realize we have increasing needs every year -- I think that's one thing."
Bennett also said she believes that more organizations, churches and civic clubs have joined CSS efforts to provide school supplies to children in need every year, which could account for their new record.
"I also think that we have more and more organizations that join our efforts every year," Bennett said. "That just shows you that this community embraces the needs of our children."
All items donated during the Stuff the Bus campaign on Aug. 8 were taken to Greenwood Middle School, where volunteers sorted through the supplies before dividing them up to place in boxes for each of the 33 public schools in Wayne County. Volunteers began working at 9 a.m. Monday and were expected to work to 1 p.m.
"It takes a good four to five hours after we get here with good help to do everything that needs to be done," Bennett said.
After the boxes are filled and sorted, the Wayne County Transportation Department will be notified for distribution. Bennett hopes to have all of the supplies delivered to the schools before their open house.
As supplies continue to be donated to CSS, Bennett will keep a stash in her office for school counselors and social workers in case of an emergency. Bennett tries to keep supplies in her office all year long and has set up an emergency Student Support Fund so she can purchase supplies throughout the school year if needed.
"Student Support (Fund) is to purchase school supplies for children," Bennett said. "A lot of people will continue to give throughout the year because they know those children's needs can be met through the student support funding that we provide."
Despite the record-breaking number, Bennett said that many schools will run out of supplies by the fourth or sixth week of the school year.
"As a former classroom teacher, I know what it's like," Bennett said. "You don't want any child in your classroom to be without the necessary supplies to start the school year and unfortunately many of our parents simply cannot provide as they would like to.
"Of course, the need is greater in some schools than other schools and that's something that we realize. That's why I do keep a supply of items in my office and I also, if a school calls me and they have a need, I can go purchase things for them in an emergency situation."
Communities Supporting Schools accepts school supplies and monetary donations throughout the year. Donations can be mailed or dropped off at the CSS office, which is located inside the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce building at 308 N. William St.
Monetary donations can be made out to CSS of Wayne and mailed or dropped off at the CSS office.
"We just appreciate all the efforts of the individuals, the businesses and the organizations in this community because no donation is too small -- whether it be one bookbag or 50 bookbags," Bennett said. "We appreciate that help and its building the awareness of the needs of our kids (and) it's showing how this community is invested in what we do."
For more information, Bennett can be reached at 919-735-1432 or sbennett@waynecss.org. The organization's website is www.waynecss.org.